I'd Like to Be the Window for a Wise Old Dog

by Philip C. Stead Narrated by Helen Lloyd

Overview

A comforting and timely new book that feels like an instant classic, written by Philip Stead, author of the Caldecott Medal-winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee and the New York Times bestselling The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine.

The limitless possibilities of the world outside our windows-and the warmth and comfort of home-are explored in this thoughtful meditation on the imagination, as seen from the point of view of a wise old dog.

Any child who has ever felt uncertainty about the world outside will be soothed and enchanted by the open-ended, seemingly-unanswerable, and utterly whimsical questions this book poses: "Will I ever be the dawdle of a penguin? Will I ever be the waddle of a snail? Will I ever be the tumble of a honeybee? Will I ever be the bumble of a whale?"

Children will love asking their own imaginative questions, and thinking about their own view of the world outside their window. It's a perfect story for families to share together from the warmth and comfort of home.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

06/06/2022

Beginning with assonant three-line phrases that start “I’d like to be...,” euphonious prose builds to experiential wishes. Varying between the strictly naturalistic (“Oh, I’d like to be/ the raindrop/ falling on a turtle shell”) and the seemingly fanciful (“I’d like to be/ the welcoming umbrella/ of an elephant”), the whimsical lines feature myriad creatures, including penguins, snails, a walrus, and a wren. The speaker frequently expresses chimerical wishes, using atypical descriptions of animal-centered sounds, homes, or movement (“Will I ever be/ the tumble of a honeybee?// Will I ever be/ the bumble...// ...of a whale?”), and that verbal playfulness extends visually to depictions throughout, including one of a walrus in a rainbow-colored winter cap. The eponymous sentiment that closes gestures toward a timeless and universal hope for being “joyful and free,” embodying the depth of the book’s expressive aesthetic. Ages 3–7. (Apr.)

From the Publisher

★ "This is a text that begs to be read aloud, one-on-one or to a group. Prepare for serious toe-tapping."—Booklist, starred review

"A whimsical picture book."—The Wall Street Journal

"Philip Stead’s book pairs a poetic text with softly colored illustrations of thoughtful animals, showcasing the sensitivity of both his writing and his art."—The Virginian-Pilot

"Whimsical."—Publishers Weekly

Included in "The Most Astonishingly Unconventional Children's Books of 2022"—School Library Journal

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176100983
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	04/05/2022
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	Up to 4 Years

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