A picture book treat for the youngest dog lovers complete with adorable audio narration.
Dog loves books so much he opens his very own bookstore. At first he's short of customers. But that's all right, because when Dog is surrounded by books, he is never short of friends-or fun. And when customers begin ...
A picture book treat for the youngest dog lovers complete with adorable audio narration.
Dog loves books so much he opens his very own bookstore. At first he's short of customers. But that's all right, because when Dog is surrounded by books, he is never short of friends-or fun. And when customers begin arriving, he knows just which books to recommend.
Louise Yates's expressive little white dog-and his many expressive doggie customers-extend an irresistible invitation to the very youngest to try reading. It's fun!
This ebook includes Read & Listen audio narration.
It’s a little discouraging when Dog’s new bookstore doesn’t attract any customers, but Dog isn’t fazed; he pulls books off the shelves and loses himself in reading. “When he read, he forgot that he was alone.” Reading prepares him for bookselling, too; when a girl shows up looking for books, “Dog knew exactly which ones to recommend.” Yates’ (A Small Surprise) pale, candy-colored watercolors are the real attraction of this otherwise wispy story. Delicate pinks and purples encircle the insouciant Dog as he reads book after book, his inquisitive ears on the alert, surrounded by the creatures he reads about: dinosaurs, kangaroos, benevolent aliens in flying saucers. Yates conveys Dog’s immersion in fantasy by picturing him hovering in front of a bookshelf in a small pink spaceship of his own when the girl, his first real customer, arrives. Dog’s enthusiasm for reading and books can feel a bit heavy-handed (“He loved the smell of them, and he loved the feel of them. He loved everything about them...”), but he’s a charmer. Ages 4-8. (July)
Children's Literature
- Della A. Yannuzzi
Dog clearly loves books because he has opened up a bookstore that he is sure will succeed. He orders large stacks of books and announces a grand opening. When the day arrives, Dog takes a bath, blow-dries his fur and is ready to greet all the customers he is sure will come to his store. Dog is disappointed when no one shows up until finally a lady comes in asking for a cup of tea, thinking Dog is operating a tea shop simply because he is making tea for himself. "But this is a bookstore," Dog says," I only sell books." After the lady leaves without buying one book, another customer comes in asking for directions. He is certainly not interested in buying a book. Dog decides to read while he is waiting for more customers, and while he reads about Dinosaurs, he forgets about his problems until someone finally shows up asking for a specific book. Dog knows exactly which ones to recommend. His young customer leaves his shop with an armful of books, leaving Dog happy that he can share his love of books with someone, at last. Author Yates has written and illustrated a lovely book, which seems to end too abruptly even for a thirty-two page picture book. Still, young children will enjoy listening to and reading this book, and enjoying the many colorful full-paged illustrations. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi
School Library Journal
Gr 1—A small white dog loves books so much that he decides to open his own bookstore. Unfortunately, no customers come, so he occupies his time by reading. He is engrossed in his imaginary adventures when his first real customer asks for a book. Of course, he knows exactly what to suggest. The simple story is accompanied by soft pastel pencil and watercolor drawings that give the book a whimsical, dreamy quality. Dog is surrounded by nonthreatening dinosaurs, space aliens, and other creatures when he is reading about them. Young children can enjoy the book by themselves by following the charming illustrations. Pair this gentle tale with a winning message with Tad Hills's How Rocket Learned to Read (Random, 2010) for a dogs-that-love-books storytime.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT
Louise Yates began drawing pictures to go with stories she wrote at a very young age. About A Small Surprise, her debut picture book, School Library Journal wrote that it “will enchant and encourage those who usually find themselves too small to do many things and help them recognize their talents.”
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Overview
Dog loves books so much he opens his very own bookstore. At first he's short of customers. But that's all right, because when Dog is surrounded by books, he is never short of friends-or fun. And when customers begin ...