Buster and the Baby

by Amy Hest, Polly Dunbar (Illustrator)

Overview

What could be more endearing than the bond between a baby and a puppy? A sweet and spirited tale from two picture-book masters.

In the little red house, a dog ducks under the table. He waits and watches and waits some more as his heart goes thump, thump, thump. And then . . . CHAAA! Out of the shadows comes the baby, squealing and whirling and bumping his nose! Go Buster, go Buster, go! Is behind the blue chair a good place to hide? With beautifully tender artwork and an engaging repetitive text, author Amy Hest and illustrator Polly Dunbar follow two little ones in a breathless game of chase — winding up in a heart-tugging role reversal sure to sweeten readers’ dreams.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763687878
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	10/24/2017
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.39(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Amy Hest is the author of many beloved picture books, including Charley’s First Night and When Charley Met Grampa, both illustrated by Helen Oxenbury; Little Chick and three books about Sam and Mrs. Bear, all illustrated by Anita Jeram; and Are You Sure, Mother Bear?, illustrated by Lauren Tobia. Amy Hest lives in New York City.

Polly Dunbar is the author-illustrator of several books for young children, including Penguin, Hello Tilly, Pretty Pru, and Good Night, Tiptoe. She is also the illustrator of Pat-a-Cake Baby and Here’s a Little Poem, among other titles. She lives in England.

Editorial Reviews

★ 10/02/2017
Anyone who has played hide and seek will recognize that it’s knowing you will be found—but not knowing exactly when—that makes the game irresistible. Hest (Are You Sure, Mother Bear?) and Dunbar (I Will Not Wear Pink) offer ample proof as their characters, a white terrier named Buster and an unnamed toddler, embrace their roles as hider and seeker with comical cunning. Buster hides under or behind one of the large objects in the house (“Go, Buster. Go, Buster. Go, Buster, go!”) and waits for the desired discovery, his heart racing in anticipation (“thump, thump, thump!”). The wily toddler finds him (“chaaa!”), a celebration breaks out, and the game is on again. Readers will feel as though they’re in the thick of the fun thanks to the exclamations and exhortations that punctuate the narration, as well as the inviting energy of the sunny-hued pictures, which give the familiar rhythms and tensions of the game delicious immediacy. A page doesn’t go by without a wonderful moment: in one round of the game, the toddler announces her presence by dropping peas, one by one, onto Buster’s head. Ages 2–5. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

Readers will feel as though they’re in the thick of the fun thanks to the exclamations and exhortations that punctuate the narration, as well as the inviting energy of the sunny-hued pictures, which give the familiar rhythms and tensions of the game delicious immediacy. A page doesn’t go by without a wonderful moment: in one round of the game, the toddler announces her presence by dropping peas, one by one, onto Buster’s head.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

In a rhythmic text and lively art, a classic friendship story plays out through an extended game of hide-and seek between a baby and a small white dog named Buster...Digitally rendered crayon and paint illustrations contrast soft pastel colors with high-energy line work. Buster and the baby are delightfully expressive throughout this thrilling game of chase.
—Horn Book

The unbreakable bond between a child and a dog is explored in this simple yet touching book...Pencil-and-watercolor illustrations bring the characters to life while maintaining a soft and calming mood to make this a delightful bedtime story.
—School Library Journal

An amusing tale with heart that preschoolers will enjoy.
—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

11/01/2017
Toddler-PreS—The unbreakable bond between a child and a dog is explored in this simple yet touching book. "Thump, Thump, Thump. In the little red house, a dog ducks under the table." The little pup named Buster hides from the toddler of the house but each time he settles down to wait…"Chaaa!…" the baby comes dashing toward him. Bumping noses, chasing a tail, throwing peas, and playing ball are all common activities for the canine/child duo. The little girl and her pet keep each other busy all day until day turns to night and the baby is tucked into bed. This time the roles are reversed and as baby lays quietly in bed, "Chaaa!…" the puppy jumps into bed and snuggles in for a long night's rest alongside his forever friend. Pencil-and-watercolor illustrations bring the characters to life while maintaining a soft and calming mood to make this a delightful bedtime story. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase to a picture book collection that includes bedtime stories for babies and toddlers.—Kristen Todd-Wurm, Middle Country Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

2017-09-26
An energetic toddler plays hide-and-seek with her dog, a small but spunky canine named Buster.In the course of their play, the fluffy white dog tries to hide under a table, behind a chair, and behind a huge, stuffed toy bear. The unnamed little girl always finds Buster, charging at him with a loud "CHAAA!" that makes Buster's heart thump. The toddler, who looks about 18 months or so, is full of the typical energy and antics of a child her age, charging through the house, knocking over a vase of flowers, and tossing peas in the air with wild abandon. When the child is finally tucked into bed at night, Buster leaps onto her bed with a "CHAAA!" of his own. In a satisfying conclusion, the dog is cuddled up in the girl's arms, with their hearts beating together. The little girl's mother and father are present but don't have much interaction or control over dog or daughter; the family is white. Digitally composed illustrations have a cheerful charm, with particularly funny expressions on Buster's face. A few illustrations have several side-by-side images of Buster in motion, which may be interpreted by younger readers as multiple dogs rather than as a progression of just one. The emphasis on heartbeats and the thumping noise of a beating heart are also concepts that may be beyond toddlers' comprehension. An amusing tale with heart that preschoolers will enjoy. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews