As Warm as the Sun (2019)

As Warm as the Sun by Kate and Jim McMullan (2019) fooled me at first glance. The title font was so similar to Don Freeman’s Corduroy books, that I thought he was connected to this story. He’s not. The illustrations, which appear to be watercolor, fill each large page with colorful pictures of a French Bulldog, Toby, in his home environment. The text font is large and there’s only one or two sentences per page. The plot is simple. Life is good until another French Bulldog joins the family. There’s something about this book that left me satisfied. Was it the color pallet, the minimalist text? I don’t know. Maybe I just like dogs. 

Night Noises (1989)

 Night Noises by Mem Fox (1989) is a story about Lily Laceby, an elderly woman who lives in an old cottage. She is "nearly ninety." One evening, Lily falls asleep in her cozy chair "by her fire, snug and warm, she drifted off to sleep and began to dream." Her dog, Butch Aggie, naps at her feet. Lily dreams of moments in hr life. The older I get, the more I love stories like this one. There are noises outside, and Lily doesn't hear them but her dog does. He dog gets progressively more alert and then defensive with each page turn. When a simple knock at the door doesn't wake Lily, people bang on the door and shout at the windows. Butch Aggie barks and barks. Finally Lily awakens and wonders who could be outside. The answer is a happy one. Terry Denton's illustrations are brightly colored and somewhat comic. They lighten the growing tension and he succeeds in portraying Lily at different times in her life. 

*Amos: The Story of An Old Dog and His Couch (1987)

*Amos: The Story of An Old Dog and His Couch by Susan Seligson (1987) is a Weekly Reader Book published by Little, Brown & Company. I imagine it was fun to receive a Weekly Reader story. This book is a thin 8 ½ x 11 paperback stapled at the spine. And it’s such a fun story! Amos’ owners go out a lot and leave him home alone and lonely. One day, Amos accidentally discovers that his old couch can move, fast. Amos follows his owners when they drive away. In one hilarious scene, they’re all at a yard sale where Amos’ owners recognize their couch. Since we need a bit more drama, Amos drives around on his own and. . . no, he doesn’t get lost. . . he gets stuck in rush hour traffic! The ending is sweet and reminds us that dogs are family. Bowie Schneider’s illustrations are just perfect. 

*Clifford We Love You (1991)

*Clifford We Love You by Norman Bridwell (1991) is timeless. I wonder if Bridwell consulted child development specialists when he wrote about Clifford. “Clifford was feeling down-in-the-dumps.” I found it genuinely unsettling to see Clifford wearing a sad expression. He stops eating and howls at night. The vet finds nothing wrong with Clifford. I wanted to know why Clifford was distressed, but, of course, dogs can’t talk. It’s any dog owner’s nightmare. The children in the neighborhood try to cheer Clifford up, but nothing works. Finally, Emily Elizabeth writes a song for him. A key feature of her song is that it celebrates who he is and what he does. The music and lyrics are on the last page. 

*Frank and Lucky Get Schooled (2016)

 Frank and Lucky get Schooled by Lynne Rae Perkins (2016) surprised me with its educational content. The story begins when Frank adopts a happy canine companion named Lucky. "Lucky could always help Frank with his homework, because Luck did a lot of learning on his own. For example, Lucky was very interested in Science." After Lucky wonders about ducks and so goes swimming, wonders about squirrels and deer and bees and porcupines, and rain, and mud. . .Frank learns bout Botany. Frank leans about the burdock and dog ticks that cling to Lucky's fur. Frank learns about Chemistry when experiments with products that will wash  skunk smell out of Lucky's fur. Here's a math puzzle: "Let's say a dog comes in from outside and gets one bisuit, but therea re three people in the living room. How many more biscuits should the dog receive?" This is such a fun book. And then Perkins ties up all her lessons into a brilliant bow at the end. 

Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival (2008)

Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival  by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery (2008) is a feel good tale about a dog and a cat coping with Hurricane Katrina. An authors' note on the first page says "No one knows for sure how they met." So, the story has some fiction blended in with real events. These pet companions were each given the name Bobbi because neither one had a tail. At the beginning of the book, they are together inside a home, watching the rain, wind and flooding. They're alone because when people evacuated the area, many people "were told they could not take their pets." When the storm ends, the pets leave home and wander the abandoned streets. Packs of homeless dogs chase them. Four months later, they appear on a construction site, and a generous worker feeds them. The dog is highly protective of his feline friend. When they're separated at an animal shelter, the dog howls and barks until they are reunited in the same cage. Details about the ending create a satisfying surprise, so I won't give it away here. Pictures by Jean Cassels show the devastation in New Orleans and the pets' camaraderie. 

Madeline Finn and the Library Dog (2016)

 Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp (2016) has cover art that previews what's inside the book. Papp's illustration style offers a gentle approach to children who struggle to read. This young girl is Madeline and she wants to read. She doesn't like to read because it's difficult. She wants to earn stars for reading like her peers do. "But sometimes I can't figure out the words. Sometimes the sentences get stuck in my mouth like peanut butter. Sometimes people giggle when I make a mistake." This last sentence is key to the story's resolution. There's no mention of seeking the help of a reading specialist. This absence always disappoints me in stories like this one. Somehow, simply reading without threat of embarrassment solves Madeline's reading problem. She's paired with a very large and gentle looking dog at her local library. Just picture a big, white golden retriever. This dog, Bonnie, doesn't giggle when Madeline gets letters mixed up, doesn't pronounce words correctly, and otherwise gets stuck. So Madeline's reading improves. She actually reads aloud in class by thinking about reading to Bonnie. Of course, she finally earns a star. 

My Buddy (1992)

My Buddy by Audrey Osofsky (1992) is about the relationship between a service dog and a wheelchair-bound child. The child begins with “Buddy is my golden retriever. He looks like the sun is always shining on him…But Buddy is more than my friend. He’s my arms and legs.” This child has muscular dystrophy. There’s a brief description of how difficult it was to train Buddy. The rest of the book is about the many ways Buddy helps out. This dog turns on lights, opens doors, pushes elevator buttons, and fetches items from store shelves. When accompanying this child to school, Buddy wears a sign that says “Don’t Touch.” After school, he runs around in the child’s yard; Buddy gets time to play. Ted Rand’s watercolors capture the warmth of this child-canine companionship. He dedicates the book to Canine Companions for Independence in Santa Rosa, California. 

*Dream Meadow (1994)

*Dream Meadow by Helen V. Griffith (1994) caught me by surprise. This is a sweet story about old age and death. The cover art is a dream; actually it’s also a memory. Nancy Barnet’s pictures (are they watercolor or colored pencil, I wonder) provide an appropriate softness to accompany this romanticized vision of dying. I like this book very much. At the beginning of the story, an old woman sits in a rocking chair. An old dog lays beside the chair. Occasionally, the old woman and dog wake up and greet one another. But mostly they sleep and dream of younger days. Strictly speaking, I don’t see how this dog could be the same dog as the one in the old woman’s youth, but who cares about this detail when the story is so good. Jane dreams of running in a meadow with green grass, yellow flowers, and orange butterflies. Frisky dreams the same dream. Together their dreams merge into a happy ending. 

The Poky Little Puppy (1942)

The copyright page of The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey (1942) states that the book I own is "A Commemorative Facsimile Edition Published on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Little Golden Books." The copyright was renewed in 1969, so perhaps this is also the date for Gustaf Tenggren's illustrations. There's no date for this printing. 

Also on the copyright page "The Little Golden Books are Prepared under the Supervision of Mary Reed, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Education, Teachers College, Columbia University." 

The story has 38 pages. Five puppies dig a hole under a fence and go for a walk three times. Three times one of the puppies lags behind. Three times the other four search for this poky puppy. They see things in the world beyond their back yard. They're punished when they get home; they don't get dessert after dinner. There's a plot twist in the final few pages that relieves the monotonous repetition. Some of the illustrations are in color. Some are in black and white. It's a cute story that very young children may memorize and "read" aloud with whomever reads the story to them. 

*No! (2011)

*No! by Marta Altes (2011) was simply fun. Here’s a simple idea that somehow works brilliantly. No wonder it received the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Best Book Award. Also the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award. Technically, the illustrations are not my favorite–and yet, they’re fabulous. Altes captures the enthusiasm of a dog who aims to please. Anyone who owns a dog will recognize many of the scenarios in which “No!” applies. There’s magic here and I don’t know how Marta Altes managed to package it into a paperback. 

*My Town (1998)

*My Town by  William Wegman (1998) is much more than just dogs dressed in people clothes. It’s a terrific, well written story. It’s for anyone who faces a deadline. It’s for anyone who must produce an open-ended project and doesn’t know where to start, anyone who’s stared at a blank page or stood before a blank canvas. What to  do? The clock is ticking! Where to begin? My  favorite thing about this book is how the solution evolves naturally. Chip has a report due  tomorrow. He  wanders through town talking with members of his community in search of a good idea for a report. Librarian Castleberry puts Chip to sleep with her lengthy description of the library’s resources. Coach Lombardo tells Chip to keep his eye on the ball. As Chip  questions a  policeman, postman, fireman, and others, he takes pictures. And in the end, his report is finished.

*Bailey (2011)

 If you’re looking only to have fun reading Bailey by Harry Bliss, that's possible. Bailey is a dog. He wakes up early, chooses a collar, puts on a back pack, and rides the school bus to Champlain Elementary. Bailey is an enthusiastic student who does well academically in his own quirky way but struggles with behavioral expectations at school. Lets’ talk about that. We can chuckle when Bailey gives his teacher a bone, demonstrates his knowledge of math by writing dog bones on the chalk board, and chews the kickball at recess. But when another student comments that Bailey is “out of control”, the story asks readers to consider Bailey’s behavior more carefully. He shows surprise and remorse when his behavior is socially unacceptable. So, maybe he’ll try to change—but at what cost? The questions in this lesson invite a variety of interpretations; however, the links for background knowledge feature the gifted and talented.

This book is read aloud online by Ms. Rachel.

My Picture Book Talk for this story is here. 

*Selvakumar Knew Better (2006)

 Selvakumar Knew Better by Virginia Kroll is based on the real story of a dog that saved a seven-year-old boy. Selvakumar sensed a mighty earthquake and tsunami before his human family did. They wondered, casually, about a distant roar—was it thunder, a supersonic plane, a train? It was none of those things. It was the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004. When young Dinakaran sought safety in his house, Selvakumar dragged the boy outside by his shirt, then guided him to higher ground.

This is a story about relationships, and Xiaojun Li’s unique style of illustration appropriately focuses on the characters. An author’s note has a picture of the real-life Selvakumar and his human family.  There are many internet links marking the 20-year anniversary of this disaster. My  lesson has references for two links that seemed the most child friendly.

This book is read aloud online by a young child, which may not appeal to the older reader. It is at christine’s english read aloud.

My Picture Book Talk for this story is here. 

*The Sweetest Fig (1993)

 The Sweetest Fig, minus its book jacket, was an unattractive cast off  at  a library sale. Chris Van Allsburg's sepia-colored drawings of a mustachioed man and his dog made it look as if it belonged in the adult section. This was the kind of book I was looking for. Van Allsburg won two Caldecott awards. The Sweetest Fig captures the emotional drama of a callous man who’s about to learn a lesson from his long-suffering pet.

This is a clever story about empathy—or rather, the lack of it. It’s edgy and unsettling. The reading level  is preschool - grade 3, but my resource is not appropriate for those grades. It taps into the darkness of Van Allsburg’s illustrations. The main character is a dentist, Monsieur Bibot, “a fussy man”. He’s smug and violent with his little dog, Marcel, and with a mysterious old woman who seeks relief for a  toothache. She has no money to pay for his ruthless service, but she does give him two magic figs. “They can make your dreams come true,” she says with a  wink.

Van Allsburg’s pictures demand the reader imagine what happened before and what happens next. The text suggests possibilities. In an online video, Van Allsburg labels his work surreal and mysterious. I’ve seen it described as fantasy.

My resource is for the older reader. Most questions are open-ended to elicit interpretation and conversation. This book is read aloud online by Ms Garrison. In my opinion, her intonation is appropriate for  the story’s tone and respects the older reader.

My Teachers Pay Teachers resource for this story is here.

 

Fred Stays with Me! (2007)

 Fred Stays with Me! by Nancy Coffelt  is about a child who sometimes lives with her mom and sometimes lives with her dad. It's a very quick read, often only one brief line of text on a page. So there's not really much to say about it. This child's disrupted life has a constant--her dog Fred goes with her to her mom's house and to her dad's house. Fred barks and chews socks, behaviors that upset both parents. But when our main character makes it clear that Fred stays with her, the parents come up with solutions to his annoying quirks. 

Illustrations by Tricia Tusa are fun, though minimalist. She adds very little content to the story. I wonder why she uses such a limited palette in this book. 

Floss (1992)

 Floss by Kim Lewis (1992) was difficult for me. Floss is a happy-go-lucky border collie that belonged to an old man who lived in a town. Floss has it good. She loves taking walks with the old man and playing ball with children in the park. One day, the old man gives Floss to his son. I found this separation painful to read. The son lives in the country and needs a new young dog to herd his sheep. His present dog, Old Nell, Is worn out and quite frankly she looks it. So Floss learns to herd sheep, but she remembers her happy past. Floss sleeps in a dog house now and works long hours every day. We can imagine Floss becoming like Old Nell.

When Floss sees the farmer's children playing ball, she runs to join them. Consequently, the sheep run wild through the farmer's back yard and garden. The farmer is furious. From from then on, "She worked so hard to gather sheep well that she was too tired to dream anymore.” How sad is that? When the old man comes to watch Floss running dog trials, we don’t see a warm reunion; we see Floss panting with exhaustion post competition.

At the end of the book, the farmer gives Floss permission to play ball with the family. What is the message here? Perhaps this is a book about adulting, about moving from childhood play into the rough world of adult responsibility? 

Dog (1994)

 I picked up Dog by Robert J Blake (1994) because the cover art was so familiar. It’s strikingly similar to the cover of Floss by Kim Lewis (1992). Both covers show the head and upper body of a dog in the foreground.  One dog leans against a stone wall, the other leans against a fence.Both books show Irish countryside in the background. This is the story of a dog who suddenly appears out of nowhere to enrich the life of a reluctant, somewhat cranky the old man. On the jacket cover of Dog, Blake says that he met the main character of his story and painted the place where Peter lived. One can imagine the persistent dog seeking companionship. And some of us know bitter old men who want nothing more to do with the world. It takes a dog to warm Peter's cold heart - just enough. Not so much as to give the dog anymore of the name besides Dog. 

Hondo and Fabian (2002)

 

Hondo and Fabian by PeterMcCarty. (2002) is a day in the life of a dog and a cat. Peter McCarty’s illustrations are soft, translucent images in a range of  beige.  Maybe we’re seeing the difference between a dog and a cat at play. Hondo goes to the beach and runs around in the ocean waves with another dog. The cat stays home and as playmate for a toddler. Fabian’s idea of fun is to unroll the toilet paper. I never knew you could create such a simple picture book. Yet, it earned a Caldecott Honor. I don’t really understand this book except to say that a young child might love it. There is no rising action, no conflict, no resolution. It’s a slice of life.

Dog (1994)

 Dog by Robert J. Blake is another story about a solitary man who gives in to the irresistible companionship of a dog. This story comes from the author’s visits to Ireland. The paintings are real places Blake visited. A portrait of the main character is on the dust jacket, a real person who lived all alone without running water or electricity. The author became friends with this solitary man and received permission to paint the inside, outside, and all around the man’s house. The narrative has a “smooth Irish lilt”. The man’s gradual surrender to a dog that appears on his doorstep out of nowhere is a story for all ages. I’m guessing that adults will forgive the man’s harshness as a consequence of his living situation, and they'll perceive his attempts to warm to the dog.