Nothing But a Dog

by Bobbi Katz, Jane Manning (Illustrator)

Overview

?Once it starts?the longing for a dog?there is no cure for it.? Not checkers or kites or furry boots with zippers; not playing the trumpet or sharing movie popcorn with your friend; nothing can stop the longing for a dog. . . . Nothing?but a dog!

With lyrical text and art that ranges from bright and colorful to subtle and dreamy, this book perfectly captures one little girl's yearning for a barking, bounding best friend. Readers young and old will recognize themselves in this emotionally satisfying, universal story of childhood longing and canine companionship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101642771
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	03/04/2010
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	34 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Bobbi Katz is a well-known poet and anthologist, as well as a longtime children's book editor.

Jane Manning has illustrated numerous books for children, including the national bestseller The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches, by Alice Low.

Editorial Reviews

The desire for a dog is a common theme, and Katz's (The Monsterologist) story concerns a girl whose longing for one pervades every waking moment. An afternoon of kite flying might be a success, but then “you feel the wind in your hand—it starts up—that kind of sad, achy feeling of if you only had a dog.” Despite a light touch with the particulars (“there is no real cure for it. Not learning to play the trumpet. Or being vice president of the Tree Climbers Club”), it gets repetitive. Manning's (Cat Nights) paintings picture the girl with large, expressive eyes and a life full of absorbing activities and friends. It's hard not to come away with a sense of the narrator as curiously oblivious to the many blessings her life contains—boots with “zippers and all soft fur inside,” her “very own workbench with real tools,” and her lamentations about the one thing she doesn't have may make some readers (especially dogless ones) wince. When the dog finally shows up on the final page, it isn't a minute too soon. Ages 5–8. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 2—A young girl wishes for a dog while she engages in everyday activities, exclaiming that once the longing for a pup sets in, nothing stops it. Each page gives examples of other kinds of fun, such as learning to play the trumpet, enjoying movies, and swimming with friends, but "a dog is something else." Subtle images of canines appear in the delightful watercolor illustrations, indicating that the child's longing is always present. Four spreads in shades of blue and white portray how the girl would treasure such a pet. This is a nice, feel-good picture book with a not-too-surprising ending. While the text could be a bit confusing because of the long, incomplete sentences, this is a sweet addition to the child/pet genre.—C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KY

School Library Journal

An unnamed little girl describes her very pleasant life, which is full of nice activities yet still empty due to her unfulfilled longing for a dog. The girl cycles through her hobbies and outdoor play in different locations and seasons, with illustrations in full color, before she shifts into imaginary mode with a dog of her own. These pages show what she would do with her longed-for pet, with the illustrations in moody shades of blue to indicate her day-dreaming state. The last two spreads revert to full-color and reality as the girl is presented with the dog of her dreams by her doting parents. Why the girl receives the dog is not clear, so the conclusion falls a little flat while being completely predictable. The girl comes across as spoiled with her dog-mania, and her failure to solve the central plot issue on her own does nothing to develop her character. Manning's watercolor illustrations provide a distinct personality and genuine emotions for the girl as well as a perky canine companion, but they cannot save the narrative as a whole. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews