Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep

by Eric Barclay

Overview

An accidental-friendship story packed with humor from author-illustrator Eric Barclay

Sheep is an expert at protecting sheep—or so she thinks until one happy afternoon when she bumps into a very hairy someone on the farm.

“Who are you?” she asks.

“I’m the sheep dog!” the someone says. “I watch the sheep.”

Holy begonia! Sheep knows this can’t be right. After all, she’s the pro! So Sheep goes off to get everything Sheep Dog needs to get the job done, but each time she goes, something almost happens to Sheep…

And it's Sheep Dog who saves the day!

For fans of Goodnight Already! by Jory John, You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown, and Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle, this hilarious and tender friendship story proves that even the best watchers must look out for one another.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062677389
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	02/12/2019
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	508,407
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Eric Barclay grew up in a small Texas town, where he spent plenty of time playing outside, reading, drawing, and writing. He also enjoyed childhood summer visits to his grandfather’s ranch, which meant helping with cows and riding around in the back of a pickup. Years later, Eric hung up his overalls and graduated from a big city university, where he studied journalism and graphic design. Now he writes and illustrates books for kids, which allows him to occasionally enjoy the outdoors again. He is the author-illustrator of Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep, Hiding Phil, I Can See Just Fine, and Counting Dogs and the illustrator of My Pet Wants a Pet by Elise Broach. He lives in Texas with his wife, two daughters, one dog, two cats, two mice, and five fish. You can visit him at www.ericbarclay.com.

Eric Barclay grew up in a small Texas town, where he spent plenty of time playing outside, reading, drawing, and writing. He also enjoyed childhood summer visits to his grandfather’s ranch, which meant helping with cows and riding around in the back of a pickup. Years later, Eric hung up his overalls and graduated from a big city university, where he studied journalism and graphic design. Now he writes and illustrates books for kids, which allows him to occasionally enjoy the outdoors again. He is the author-illustrator of Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep, Hiding Phil, I Can See Just Fine, and Counting Dogs and the illustrator of My Pet Wants a Pet by Elise Broach. He lives in Texas with his wife, two daughters, one dog, two cats, two mice, and five fish. You can visit him at www.ericbarclay.com.

Editorial Reviews

10/22/2018
A lovable sheepdog and his oblivious but enthusiastic charge feature in this comical story. Sheep loves to dance, and while she is happily doing so with her eyes shut one day, she bumps into a big shaggy creature who introduces himself as the sheepdog. “Well, I’m a SHEEP sheep. I watch sheep, too,” she declares, setting off to help the dog improve at his job. Perkily, she provides him with a yellow bow to pull back his long bangs and finds him binoculars and a map; all the while, Sheep Dog quietly saves Sheep from a range of hazards—eagle, coyote, decrepit bridge. But when Sheep inquires about the others that Sheep Dog is meant to be watching, it turns out there’s only one, and Sheep Dog has been doing his job better than anyone realized. Pencil and Photoshop illustrations by Barclay (Hiding Phil) leave plenty of room for giggle-inducing word choices (the eagle is told to “vamoose,” the coyote, to “skedaddle”) as a sweet friendship burgeons. Ages 4–8. Agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

The illustrations [are] humorous and energetic” — Kirkus Reviews

“...one needn’t feel sheepish about enjoying this.” — Kirkus Reviews

“[I]llustrations by Barclay leave plenty of room for giggle-inducing word choices...as a sweet friendship burgeons.” — Publishers Weekly

“Barclay’s quick-witted text is as endearing as his pastel pencil and Photoshop illustrations, which feature an expressive, free-spirited sheep alongside a deeply caring, albeit stoic sheep dog.” — School Library Journal

“Sheep’s antics are memorably adorable and funny.” — School Library Journal

“A winning read-aloud to celebrate the merits of true friendship.” — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Winter 2018

PreS-Gr 1–Sheep Dog goes above and beyond the call of duty when a little sheep bumps into him one day, clearly in need of more help than she realizes. The lamb (who calls herself "Sheep Sheep" after her new friend identifies himself as the "Sheep Dog") decides to lend some assistance of her own by tying his long hair into a dainty bow, providing him with binoculars to enhance his sight, and handing him a map so he won't get lost. Sheep Dog proves his mettle in less ostentatious ways by ordering a swooping eagle to "vamoose" and telling a threatening coyote to "skedaddle." Sheep finds ways to look after her large shaggy friend in her own way. Barclay's quick-witted text is as endearing as his pastel pencil and Photoshop illustrations, which feature an expressive, free-spirited sheep alongside a deeply caring, albeit stoic sheep dog. Sheep's antics are memorably adorable and funny, particularly when she launches into the "Get this Spider off of Me Dance" and the "Pee Pee Dance." Sheep Dog's mostly deadpan expression is the perfect contrast to Sheep's childish silliness, making them ideal partners. This is as endearing as Peggy Rathmann's Officer Buckle and Gloria. VERDICT A winning read-aloud to celebrate the merits of true friendship.—Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY

School Library Journal

2018-09-30

New friends are out together, though not dancing, sheep to sheep.

The dancing allusion is apropos given that Sheep loves to trot the light fantastic and show off fancy hoofwork. The sprightly movements help her meet a shaggy canine on her farm. When this critter—a sheepdog—explains his function, Sheep declares that she's an expert at watching animals of her kind, too, and is, therefore, a "SHEEP sheep." Twice while searching for items her new buddy will need for his job, Sheep is stalked by wily predators. Unbeknownst to her, but observed by the dog—and readers—they attempt stealthy grabs but are promptly sent packing by…guess who? A third near mishap, to which Sheep is again oblivious, soon occurs, but the watchful dog saves her woolly hide again. Sheep Dog's best "rescue," though?—a clever and satisfying action plan for Sheep's future at this thin story's resolution that gives her a sense of purpose and restores her self-esteem, at the same time offering a punning twist on shepherding. Some may frown that the male is active and resourceful while the female remains relatively passive. The illustrations, rendered in colored pencils and Adobe Photoshop, are humorous and energetic if flat, which suits the endearing, cartoony, expressive characters.

Not the best friendship story, but one needn't feel sheepish about enjoying this. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews