PPBF: Hot Dog

Author/Illustrator: Doug Salati
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, 2022
Age: 2-6
Themes: dogs, city life, hot weather

Opening: City summer, steamy sidewalks

Summary: (from my library’s catalog) It’s summer in the city, and this hot dog has had enough! Enough of sizzling sidewalks, enough of wailing sirens, enough of people’s feet right in his face. When he plops down in the middle of a crosswalk, his owner endeavors to get him the breath of fresh air he needs. She hails a taxi, hops a train, and ferries out to the beach. Here, a pup can run!

I picked this book because: it’s hot! I live in a small city but I’ve lived in pretty big ones and very big ones, and I also know how much dogs don’t appreciate a walk in the summer heat! Neither do I! The illustrations are playful and full of energy and the story is simple but oh, so relatable. sure to be a pleaser… but be ready because listeners will want a stretch of sand or body of water to escape to when finished!

Resources/activities: read this with a plan in mind to find refuge in nature afterwards; visit a beach or a place to dip your toes into water or dig in the sand; read other weather related books like My Winter City, or The Way the Storm Stops

(can’t find my own pics, but this looks yummy too!)

For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.

PPBF: No Roses for Harry!

Author: Gene Zion
Illustrator: Margaret Bloy Graham
Publisher: Harper & Row, 1958
Age: 3-7
Themes: dogs, gifts, sweaters
Opening: See images below

Summary: (from Amazon) Harry is the not-too-happy recipient of a handmade sweater, and what makes matters worse is that it’s a sweater with a pattern of roses. Harry does everything he can think of to get rid of that sweater. But when it seems like he’ll never lose the sweater, an unexpected visitor helps him solve his problem…

I like this book because: everyone loves Harry the Dog, but this particular edition from the series is printed on a luminescent yellow paper! (If anyone out there has a first edition or at least a much older copy, please let me know if it also used this paper.) It transforms the reading experience in an unexpected way which fascinates me! The limited color palette in the illustrations is common because of the old printing process at the time it was published, but this yellow paper amplifies the beauty of that simplicity, I cant stop looking, and these photos do not do it justice! That’s it! Please, if you’ve seen this, share your thoughts with me!

Resources/activities: draw with colored pencils or crayons on different colored papers and and compare how it affects the colors you’ve drawn with, or use collage to compare colors; read An Eye for Color, by Natasha Wing and Julia Breckenreid, and Squares & other shapes with Josef Albers (video link).

For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog  HERE. 

PPBF: Mr. Scruff

Author/Illustrator: Simon James
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2019
Age: 3-6
Themes: Companionship, dogs, pet ownership

Opening: see 2 images below.

Summary: (from my library catalog) Everyone knows that owners and their dogs belong together in a unique way. Polly belongs to Molly, Eric belongs to Derek, Berry belongs to Terry. But poor Mr. Scruff, alone in the rescue shelter, doesn’t belong to anyone. Then a boy named Jim walks in, and they seem to get along. Jim and Mr. Scruff don’t look anything alike, and their names certainly don’t rhyme, but they may end up belonging to each other just the same. From author-illustrator Simon James comes a warm, winning story about friendship and finding a home. A sweetly silly story of a little boy and a dog who make an unlikely (but perhaps perfect) pair.

Resources/activities: Talk about pets and why they might be a good fit for a child or their family, how the pet was chosen, or how otherwise ownership has come about; discuss what’s important about ownership, responsibilities, and care; discuss why a person or family might chose not to have a pet.

For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog  HERE.

PPBF: The Detective Dog

Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Sara Ogilvie
Publisher: Godwin Books/Henry Holt, 2018; orig. in England by Macmillan, 2016
Age: 4-7
Themes: dogs, libraries, rhyming books

Opening: There once was a dog with a keen sense of smell. She was known far and wide as Detective Dog Nell.

Summary: (from my library’s catalog): When Detective Dog Nell puts her nose to the task, there’s no mystery she can’t solve. Whether she’s tracking the missing shoe of her human, Peter, or locating some lost honeycomb, all Nell has to do is sniff, sniff, sniff and she’s hot on the trail. Besides solving mysteries, there’s something else Nell loves–listening to children read. Every Monday, Peter takes her to school where children tell her stories. One day, Nell and Peter arrive to find that all the books are gone. Who could have taken them? And why? There’s only one dog for the job, and Detective Dog Nell is ready to sniff out the thief!

Fitting for the illo that the book was falling off the table when I shot this pic!

I like this book because: I figure every child (and me!) wishes they could have a dog in the classroom – every day! This is yet another fantastic read-aloud from the Gruffalo-author, Julia Donaldson. And the delightful, energetic renderings live up to the Donaldson standard! You will fall in love with Nell too!

Resources/Activities: seek out programs (like at my local library) where you can read to a dog; Ask around, someone you know might not be using the library for all it has to offer – maybe you could even give them a tour! I meet people all the time in the bookstore where I work who do not even have a library card! Yowza!

For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.

PPBF: The Great Dog Bottom Swap

Author: Peter Bently
Illustrator: Mei Matsuoka
Publisher: Andersen Press, 2009
Age: 0+ (according to publisher!)
Themes: dogs, behavior, humorous stories
Opening: The day had arrived for the Dog’s Summer Ball. All the dogs in the world were lined up at the hall, where a sign on the door said, Now please be so kind as to keep your coat on but remove your behind. Please hang up your bottom on one of the pegs and remember, no growling or cocking of legs.

Summary: (from my library catalog) The day has arrived for the Dogs’ Summer Ball. It’s so high class that each dog must remove their bottom before they are allowed inside the hall. But in the middle of all the frivolity something unexpected happens and the dogs have to make a hasty exit…with or without the correct bottom!

Why I like this book: It’s HILARIOUS! I have recently mentioned this book so many times it was evident I needed to feature it! The illustrations feature dogs in outfits and accessories that bring on the giggles all by themselves, but this story is just such a hoot, you MUST look for it at your library/bookstore!

Resources/Activities: Think how you might come up with a ‘legend’ for how some strange behavior came to be for other animals.

For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.

PPBF: A Summery Saturday Morning

PPBF on Susanna Hill’s blog is taking a nap – a long summer slumber – but I can’t help myself – gotta share books I think are ‘pickcha poifect’! (I’m allowed to tawk like that – originally from LonGisland, NY).

Author: Margaret Mahy
Illustrator: Selina Young
Publisher: Viking/Penguin Group, 1998
Ages: 2-6
Themes: dogs, summer, stories in rhyme
Opening: We take the dogs down the wiggly track,/The wiggly track, the wiggly track./One dog’s whoite and the other dog’s black/ On a summery Saturday morning.
Summary: (from my library catalog) Nothing seems to go as planned on their Saturday morning, but the children enjoy themselves.

I like this book because: it’s a rollicking read-aloud with a funny storyline with cheerful watercolors that play up the fun. I really appreciate Margaret Mahy’s playful way with words.

Resources/activities: watch this New Zealand TV trailer for a Margaret Mahy documentary, even if we can’t get out hands on the film here in the US – it’s still fun!; take a walk on a summery morning and describe what you encounter – maybe in a rhyme?!

For existing PPBF selections including resources and activities, go to Susanna Hill’s blog: HERE

PPBF: Pig and Pug

Authors: Laura Marchesani and Zenaides A. Medina Jr.
Illustrator: Jarvis
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers, 2015
Ages: level 2 progressing reader
Themes: farm animals, friendhip, commonalities
Opening: Pig lives on a farm. There are four cows. There are ten chickens. There are six sheep. But there is just one pig.
Summary: (from my library catalog) Pig lives on a farm where he is the only animal without a friend until a new creature arrives, Pug, who is not a pig but has a curly tail, snorts, plays in the mud, and just might be a good friend for Pig.

I like this book because: despite my choice being a leveled reader, it’s narrative is fun to read aloud and the takeaway is endearing. The illustrations are delightful, simple (okay, a little more depth of color/contrast might be too much to expect in a leveled reader, but I’d suggest it for the series), and full of emotion.

Resources/activities: Compare animal traits; What do we feel would make a good friend and why?; Do we have friends with which we share a lot in common? How important is that? Draw the characters in the book – they are perfect for emulating.

For more PPBF selections including resources and activities, go to Susanna Hill’s blog: HERE

PPBF: It’s Only Stanley

Author/Illustrator: Jon Agee
Publisher: Dial, 2015
Ages: 4 and up
Themes: stories in rhyme, dogs, humorous stories
Opening: The Wimbledons were sleeping. It was very, very late, when Wilma heard a spooky sound, which made her sit up straight. 
Summary: (from my library catalog) Very strange noises that keep awakening the Wimbledon family one night have an even stranger source.

Why I like this book: It’s JON AGEE. Yep, I am a total fan, and I was not disappointed with his latest! Check out my guest post on why he inspires me on Marcie Colleen’s series: Friendspiration Fridays – HERE

Resources/activities: learn about the intelligence of dogs – HERE; and their emotions – HERE; and some fun facts about dogs, (like a dog’s hearing is four times better than yours!) – HERE

For more PPBF selections including resources and activities, go to Susanna Hill’s blog: HERE

PPBF: Scrappy the Pup

Author: John Ciardi
Illustrator: Jane Miller
Publisher: J. B. Lippincott, 1960
Ages: 3-8yrs
Themes: stories in rhyme, watchdogs, farmers
Opening: This is the story of Scrappy the Pup, Who slept so hard he just couldn’t wake up.
Summary: (from my library catalog) Here is a Poem about Scrappy the pup who was supposed to be a watchdog. What Scrappy really liked to do was eat and sleep, and once he was asleep nothing could arouse him-not thunder, rain, guns, nor anything else – until his owner, a farmer, broke Scrappy’s dinner plate.

I like this book because: the rhyme is sublime! I am a late bloomer when it comes to poetry, but I know a good ‘un when I read it! I saw the author mentioned in an interview with illustrator Moira Swiatkowski on Joanna Marple’s blog HERE. I put a bunch of his books on hold and am totally in love! As I told a friend, I feel like I’m being pushed on a swing while reading this. No need to take my word, read the three consecutive pages posted here. I enjoyed the simplistic and loose illustration style, and feel it works well with the rhythm of the story.

Resources/activities: read more of John Ciardi’s collections for children; read Renée LaTulippe’s Ciardi post with Lee Bennet Hopkins at No Water River HERE; write a poem!

For more PPBF selections including resources and activities, go to Susanna Hill’s blog: HERE

Thinking about Visual Thinking

…and character development. By sketching, doodling, drawing every day (thanks to SkADaMo challenges with Linda Silvestri and Alison Kipnis Hertz’s Doodle Day fb group) I have become aware that a lot of my creative process does not take place in my head, but though visual communication with my hand. Sound crazy to anyone? The shape of one curve often interests me enough to change the way I’m drawing a character from the visual I had in my head. Often ‘accidents’ happen that are more appealing than what I was attempting. I thought I’d share an example – how I came upon an alpaca while trying to draw a dog!

So here was one attempt at a dog, utilizing black so that I could concentrate more on the shape and how it was working for me. It wasn’t. Do I want this dog to have more anthropomorphic qualities? Should he be able to stand on two legs? Hold on to it, but create a new file.

Fun lines, but this did NOT look like a dog to me! Nope! Next…

Now I have really taken a departure form the canine world! but now I see something quite different, a different species altogether…’follow your nose, Julie’…another file!

Now I see, it’s an alpaca! But so stiff! I’ll play, and add color too…

No dog created, but I found this delightful creature! So I allow myself to write a crappy story draft, and draw crappy sketches – a workable piece could be in the next file!