It's Raining Pups and Dogs!

by Jeanne Prevost (Text by), Amelia Hansen (Illustrator)

Overview

Lauren is angry with her father for having their dog Scout spayed, dashing her hopes of having the fun of raising puppies. To show Lauren why they made the decision not to breed Scout, Lauren's dad takes her to visit a large animal shelter. Seeing the hundreds of dogs waiting for rescue, many with little hope of finding a home, Lauren comes to understand why they spayed Scout: there are too many dogs and too few homes for them. The realistic, captivating art features shelter dogs. The final page of the book offers information for parents and other adults about pet overpopulation and the importance of spaying and neutering.

Jeanne Prevost's previous title, It's Raining Cats—and Cats! won the ASPCA Henry Bergh Award for Best Children's Picture Book and a Humane Society of the US Youth KIND Award. Prevost is an elementary school teacher who has worked as a medical assistant for a veterinary hospital.

Amelia Hansen is the illustrator of award-winning the Gryphon Press titles It's Raining Cats—and Cats!, Are You Ready for Me?, and At the Dog Park with Sam and Lucy, as well as nineteen other books.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780940719163
Publisher:	The Gryphon Press
Publication date:	05/07/2013
Series:	Sit! Stay! Read!
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Author Jeanne Prevost is the award-winning author of It’s Raining Cats—and Cats!, her first children’s book. She is elementary school teacher who has also worked as a medical assistant for a veterinary hospital; trained puppies for Guiding Eyes for the Blind; and raised chickens, ducks, a goat, and numerous dogs.

Artist Amelia Hansen is the much-honored illustrator of It's Raining Cats and Cats! Are You Ready for Me? and At the Dog Park with Sam and Lucy, all Gryphon Press titles, as well as nineteen other books exploring the connections between people, animals, and the earth. If she's not in her studio, you may find Amelia painting outdoors, riding her bike, walking with friends, or hanging out with her husband, cats, chickens and bees.

Editorial Reviews

“A book with beautiful illustrations and an important message. The subject of pet overpopulation is an important issue for children to grasp, and the way Jeanne Prevost and Amelia Hansen handle it here makes the topic feel contemporary, realistic, and even hopeful.”
—Pet Detective Kat Albrecht, Founder, Missing Pet Partnership

“This is a recommended read for all parents and children, and a great addition for any humane educator’s program library.
—Susan Helmink, President, Association of Professional Humane Educators

From the Publisher

An understanding dad shows his daughter why it's best for their dog not to have puppies in this well-meaning, earnest story about pet overpopulation. Lauren is an African-American girl about 11 or 12 years old who desperately wants her young female dog to have at least one litter of puppies. Her parents don't agree, so Lauren is alternately sad and angry when her dog returns from surgery after being spayed. Lauren's wise father first tells his daughter about the high number of unwanted dogs and then shows her by taking her to a dog shelter. The shelter attendant shows them long rows of appealing dogs waiting for adoption, and Lauren asks to volunteer at the shelter to play with the dogs. The text includes several vague references to dogs that are unadoptable due to their difficult previous circumstances and to dogs staying at the shelter "all their short lives," but euthanasia is not explained within the story. A concluding note intended for parents and other adults gives information about unwanted dogs, euthanasia and puppy mills as well as additional sources. It's a sensitive introduction to a difficult topic, but parents should be ready for difficult questions. (author's note, additional sources) (Informational picture book. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews