Reviewed by Kristen Van Kampen (Teen Reviewer) for Readers' Favorite

Buddy's Special Mission by Colleen Driscoll is a heartwarming children's book that follows a dog named Buddy, and a young boy named Jake. Jake's father, Andy, is in the military, and he has to go away on duty for a while. Before he leaves, Andy tells Buddy to look after the family. Jake and Andy sometimes talk through the computer, but poor Buddy can't see Andy. When Jake feels sad, Buddy is always there to comfort him, and he also comforts a few other children as well. When Jake goes to school, Buddy guards the house like a guard dog. Buddy looks out for Jake and his mom through summer, fall, winter, and spring, but when will Andy get back?

I really enjoyed reading Buddy's Special Mission by Colleen Driscoll. The book is very well written and descriptive. I liked that the story was written from Buddy's point of view, because he has funny outlooks on things like the vacuum cleaner and cars. The story is very heartwarming, because Buddy cares about his family, and he does his job as best as he can. Many children will be able to relate to Jake, because many children have gone through what Jake went through. I like that Buddy behaves just like a real-life dog. The pictures by Kelsey Musgrave are very well drawn and clearly depict each scene. Buddy the dog looks adorable. The book is well thought out and well developed. I would definitely recommend this to young readers.