What If My Dog Had Thumbs?

by Mike Perry, Mike Perry (Illustrator)

Overview

Readers who have entertained existential questions about their pets will appreciate the absurd brainstorm. —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

What would it be like if our narrator’s dog had thumbs? Would she still be lots of fun, or would she sometimes feel glum? Written in rollicking rhyme and brought to life with funky, fluorescent illustrations, this hilarious tale of what-ifs will leave readers in an uproar, making this a book to read again and again!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781948340090
Publisher:	DOTTIR PR
Publication date:	09/03/2019
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 12.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

MIKE PERRY is an artist, animator, poet, author of more than a dozen books, and brand consultant. He is popularly known for his work on Broad City, for which he won an Emmy. He lives and works in Brooklyn with his wife, Anna, and dog, Bass.

Read an Excerpt

Hmm...what if my dog had thumbs?

Would she still be lots of fun?

Would we run around and play

each and every day,

under that big, beautiful sun?

What if my dog had thumbs?

Drawers would be no obstacle.

The pantry she would explore.

Nothing would be impossible,

especially not the door.

What if my dog had thumbs?

Would she open the drawer, pull out a spoon,

sit at the table, and slowly consume

a beautiful pile of homemade legumes?

And enjoy each and every one?

What if my dog had thumbs?

Would she walk around town

shaking hands with all of her chums?

Editorial Reviews

10/14/2019

Perry, an Emmy-winning graphic artist and animator for his work on Broad City, brings a lively, psychedelic energy to his debut children’s book. The titular question repeats throughout, followed by musings on the topic: “Would she walk around town shaking hands with all of her chums?/ Or bang on a drum, declaring in a hum, ‘I am a dog with thumbs!’ ” Printed in fluorescent inks and reminiscent of ’60s poster art, the illustrations feature a handsome, moplike pup with opposable thumbs engaged in the mundane (eating beans with a spoon) and the extraordinary (exploring space). Wordless spreads break up meandering stanzas, inviting the reader to soak in the surreal. While bumpy at times, Perry’s limerick-like tune makes for a diverting readaloud. Readers who have entertained existential questions about their pets will appreciate the absurd brainstorm. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Dog fans will love the main character—a shaggy canine that oozes personality and thrives on an adventure-filled, if imaginary, life....[and] the wordplay, always fun and sometimes philosophical, just asks to be read aloud. —KIRKUS REVIEWS

A diverting readaloud...Readers who have entertained existential questions about their pets will appreciate the absurd brainstorm. —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

From the Publisher

2019-06-23
The titular question is explored in rhyming verse.

Visually, this book screams for attention with its illustrations in intense neon colors and striking contrasts (think dandelion yellow and magenta highlighted with cherry red or royal blue, magenta, and dandelion yellow accented with gold). Dog fans will love the main character—a shaggy canine that oozes personality and thrives on an adventure-filled, if imaginary, life. Word lovers will jump into the fun and ponder the question: "Would she walk around town shaking hands with all of her chums?" A spotted dog's paw and the protagonist's clasp across the gutter. "Would she go to the store, just to explore / what she could wear on the dance floor?" She boogies in blue jeans beneath a disco ball. The possibilities are endless, and each one is just a bit more complicated and unlikely than the one before. The rhyme isn't always perfect, but the wordplay, always fun and sometimes philosophical, just asks to be read aloud. "Would she pick apples and make a pie? / Would she close her eyes and try to touch the sky?" The unstudied, playful aesthetic encourages readers to embrace the looniness and have fun creating their own imaginative rhymes. No possibility is too silly.

Creative concept and wordplay with playful illustration you can enjoy with your thumbs. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews