*Hey, Al (1986)

*Hey, Al by Arthur Yorinks (1986) is a fun story with illustrations by Richard Egielski that earned a Caldecott Medal. The book in my hand is the seventh printing (1993). “Al, a nice man, a quiet man, a janitor lived in one room on the West Side with his faithful dog Eddie.” One day, they argued about their poor living conditions (yes, Eddie talks). The next day, a giant bird pops its head through Al’s bathroom window and offers to take him and his dog to a better life. That better life is on an island in the sky. They’re warmly greeted by a variety of birds, which, after finishing the book, feels a little creepy. In fact, the two-page spread illustrating this welcome has a single, subtle clue about what is to come. The island is paradise, until it’s not. Al and Eddie make it back home. The final sentence reads, “Paradise lost is sometimes Heaven found.” 

Toto The Tornado Kitten (2012)

Toto The Tornado Kitten by Jonathan Hall (2012) appears to be a self-published book about a true story. Toto was born a wild kitten. When a tornado blew through the landscape, Toto landed in a tree. It was rescued and eventually adopted. Illustrations by Carol Ruzicka show Toto’s journey through many kind, helpful people. More information is at www.totothetornadokitten.com 

*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. 

Mapping Sam (2021)

 Mapping Sam by Joyce Hesselberth (2021) at first glance looks like a book Sam the cat's night time  travels. And it is, partially. It's really about maps. It's a narrative introduction to many kinds of maps. After Sam's family is asleep, this tabby slips out the back door. We see her leap over a fence, trot through grass, roll across a yard, and climb her favorite tree. Turn the page and we see a top-down diagram of where's she's been, a map complete with compass and scale. Turn the page and there's a two-page spread of Sam's skeleton and internal organs, a map of Sam. Sam doesn't just smell a flower; this flower is labeled: stamen, petal, pistil, and so on--a map of the plant. The illustrations continue this theme to measure the depth of water, a water molecule, the earth, solar system, and so on. The illustrations contrast Sam's bright orange coat against shades of blue and green and fill every square inch of the pages. The final page has a glossary featuring thumbnails and descriptions of each map in the story. 

*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. 

Too Many Dinosaurs (2011)

Too Many Dinosaurs by Mercer Mayer (2011) was an exciting library book sale find. It's always fun to discover another of his books. In this one, dinosaurs appear on land and in the air. On the cover, a child holds a baby triceratops in the foreground while another child runs away in terror in the background. Mercer Mayer is an illustration genius, but you don’t need me to tell you that. Here’s a simple yet clever story with colorful, detailed pictures--a masterpiece. The main character, wisely gender neutral, wants a puppy. This might be a tired premise in the hands of another author. But not for Mayer. Mayer’s  protagonist buys a dinosaur egg at a yard sale, and it hatches. A single action results in multiple dinosaurs. With no other obvious ideas, that same action causes them to fade away. (But they reemerge!) And the child gets a puppy. Pretty novel way to solve the problem of convincing mom to buy a dog. 

Nutik, the Wolf Pup (2001)

Nutik, the Wolf Pup by Jean Craighead George (2001) was a little unsettling for me. A  young boy named Amaroq helps care for an injured wolf pup. Amaroq’s sister warns him not to grow to love the pup, “‘...your heart will break when the wolves come and take him away.’” The pup’s name is Nutik and Amaroq grows to love it. Of course, he hides the pup when its pack comes for it. The pack returns, and Nutik joins his wolf family–until he doesn’t. A wolf as a pet? I’m not so sure about that. But then again, an Eskimo village is not my culture, so I don’t know what the norm is. Ted Rand's illustrations have an informality to them that was adequate for the story.

*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.

Shadow (1999)

Shadow by Jill Newsome (1999) is for children facing the challenge of a family move. Rosy must leave behind her home, school, and friends when her family moves to a new house. She is angry and lonely. She has insomnia and nightmares. Then one day, she brings home an injured rabbit. Claudio Munoz's palette fills with color as Rosy heals the rabbit and it becomes her pet. It follows her everywhere, hence the name Shadow.  When Shadow wanders off, Rosy posts signs in her neighborhood. The classmate who finds Shadow becomes Rosy's friend. The text is large print and spare. The illustrations are just enough to represent the story. This book is a quick read.

Dogs As I See Them (2015)

Dogs As I See Them by Lucy Dawson (2015) is a lovely book of drawings. A brief introduction reads “Lucy Dawson’s friendly, sympathetic portraits of dogs so delighted readers of numerous English andAmerican periodicals that they finally were gathered together to make a book.” Ann Patchett’s forward adds the information we need to coalesce this collection of dog sketches. She writes, “Lucy Dawson’s genius...is her ability to draw the personality of every dog she met.” The book is designed to convey an atmosphere of dignity and historical importance with its cream-colored pages. A short paragraph and several sketches accompany each completed drawing. Indeed they are quite nice. Lately, I’ve seen so many excellent portraits of pets that I hesitate to place Lucy Dawson’s work high above them. 

*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. 

Ian’s Pet (1991)

 Ian’s Pet (1991) by Delores Lowe Friedman is a clever way to teach a popular lesson, the transformation of a tadpole into a frog. I’m willing to guess you didn’t infer this surprise from the title. If you looked closely enough, you may have guessed it from the cover art. The story begins with a common theme, a child wants a pet. Ian’s class is writing, drawing, and talking about pets. Since Ian doesn’t own a pet, he writes, draws, and talks about the dinosaur he would like to have as a pet. Pretty standard fare so far. We’re still on autopilot when Ian catches a tiny fish from a pond and puts it into a bowl. He writes, draws, and talks about his fish. It’s a satisfying read when his fish turns out not to be a fish after all. Pictures by Susan Magurn are just right, especially Ian’s many drawings of his fish that grows legs.

*My New Shirt (2007)

 My New Shirt by Cary Fagen (2007) is a  fun story with equally humorous illustrations by Dusan Petricic. The cover art caught my eye—the arms of a long sleeve, button down, collared, white shirt wrap around the neck of a worried child. It promises an unusual story inside. David’s grandmother gives him a starched white shirt every year for his birthday. This year, his gift mysteriously exits out the window and is dragged down block by his dog! Never fear, Bubbie knows how to wash it sparkling white again. The ending is too endearing to reveal here. This is one of my favorites.

*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.

 

*All the dear little animals (2006)

 All the Dear Little Animals by Ulf Nilsson (2006) surprised me with its multidimensional treatment of death. One day, a girl named Esther finds a dead bumblebee and decides to give it a proper burial. The narrator, a younger boy, writes a poem for the graveside funeral. This leaves the children feeling so kind and unselfish, that they seek out other dead animals to respect with a brief, compassionate funeral. The size of their unfortunate subjects grow from bee to mouse to hamster. When they bury three fish found in the refrigerator, I wondered if they buried the family's dinner. As they fill one day with their endeavor, they become more sensitive to the sadness of death. At the end of the day, Esther finally cries for a rabbit they found dead in the road. The children provide a way for readers to address death that I found tender and wholesome. The illustrations by Eva Eriksson feel gentle and loving.

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?