Pick a Pup

by Marsha Wilson Chall, Jed Henry (Illustrator)

Overview

Today is the day that Sam picks a pup! But how will he ever decide which one? He and his gram take a trip to the city animal shelter, greeting their neighbors' dogs as they go. There are sleepy pups, hyper pups, glamorous pups—and some that are a mix of everything!

This energetic book, with its fun rhyming text and adorable illustrations, is sure to thrill the young dog lover. Anyone who's ever adopted a furry friend will already know the true trick to picking a pup . . . the pup picks YOU!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416979616
Publisher:	Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication date:	02/22/2011
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Marsha Wilson Chall is the author of such books as One Pup's Up, illustrated by Henry Cole; Up North at the Cabin, illustrated by Steve Johnson; and Sagebrush Spring, illustrated by Jim Daly. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her husband, dog, and barn cats, and you can visit her online at www.marshachall.com.

Editorial Reviews

Thanks to his grandmother, Sam gets to choose a pet dog from the shelter. "But which one will he pick?" writes Chall (One Pup's Up). "Is there a way to know the one—a clue, a sign, a trick?" Eschewing the usual breed categories, Sam prefers to think in terms of character traits as he mulls over the various dogs in his neighborhood. There's the "sit-in-your-lap dog," the "hates-to-play-alone pup," the "pedigreed-Who's-Who pup" and so on. But when Sam's eyes meet those of a bouncing yellow puppy across a crowded shelter room, the boy has an epiphany that should be familiar to any dog owner: he's been chosen as well. Debut artist Henry's compositions don't break any new ground, but his watercolor and digital artwork exudes a sturdy, boyish energy, and his animal characterizations feel spot-on. Without needing much detail, he captures the infectious joy of canine physicality—whether his subject is lolling, leaping, preening, or feverishly wagging its tail—as well as the eager eyes that constitute the doggie equivalent of a grin. Ages 2–5. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 1—Sam is going to the animal shelter to pick out a pup but he's worried he will not know which one to choose. After poring through piles of books with his grandma, he packs up a box and a blanket and they walk to the shelter, studying different types of dogs along the way. He considers "David's runs-right-up pup,/always-wakes-you-up pup,/dances-for-a-bone pup,/hates-to-play-alone pup" and "Auntie Ruth's woolly-like-a-sheep dog...." The rhythmic text is lighthearted and complements the warm, sunny watercolor and digital illustrations. At the shelter, Sam is greeted by a roomful of panting canines wagging their tails and ready to play, and not a cage in sight. When one pup jumps out of the pack right at Sam, he learns the trick in choosing a pet; "We're meant to be....this pup picked me!" Even though the process of getting a dog is simplified, this charming picture book focuses on the same things kids think about-the way dogs play and choosing the right one. A charming addition to any collection.—Kristine M. Casper, Huntington Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

Sam is a thoughtful, dark-haired boy who is ready to adopt a dog. But how will he decide which one to choose? Grandma says he'll just know, but Sam isn't so sure. Warm digital-and-watercolor artwork shows the multitude of neighborhood canines that Grandma and Sam encounter on the way to the shelter, and the sprightly, rhyming text captures each one in pithy, hyphenated phrases. For example, there's a "sit-in-your-lap dog," a "runs-right-up pup" and a "woolly-like-a-sheep dog." Each one has its own particularities, which confounds Sam further. When Grandma and Sam arrive at shelter, there are many lovable dogs awaiting new owners, and Sam wants to adopt them all. There is a special puppy waiting for just for him though, once he realizes who really does the picking. Terrific for sharing, with bouncing and memorable phrasing and appealing, energetic illustrations, this sweet and satisfying tale showcases the charm and special qualities of dogs as well as the tenderness of a grandparent-grandchild relationship. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews