One Hundred Bones

by Yuval Zommer, Yuval Zommer (Illustrator)

Overview

A little dog makes a big discovery . . .

Scruff the dog is a stray who just loves to dig. It doesn't make him the most popular dog in town. But when he sniffs out a pile of old bones, he gets all the neighborhood dogs to help him. They uncover not one, not two, not three . . . but 100 bones and make the most exciting dinosaur discovery of all time! Scruff's find wins him new friends and a new home. A heartwarming story about an underdog who comes out on top.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763681838
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	04/26/2016
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 11.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Yuval Zommer graduated from the Royal College of Art in London and has worked as a creative director for some of the world's top advertising agencies. His first picture book was The Big Blue Thing on the Hill.

Editorial Reviews

Within the well-crafted narrative, occasional bits of dialogue help define various characters’ personalities while moving the story forward. The dynamic, digital illustrations are varied in composition and in point of view, showing an amusing dog’s-eye-view of people (legs only) in the park scenes and an intriguing, cutaway underground view of the dig site full of bones. The volume’s large format showcases Zommer’s strong, engaging artwork and makes this lively picture book as rewarding for reading aloud to groups as to individuals.
—Booklist (starred review)

This book includes a winning combination of dogs and dinosaurs, alliteration such as “Sidney the sausage dog” and “Percy the Pug,” and lots of humorous details. This story of a homeless dog who triumphs in the end is a sure winner.
—School Library Journal

Zommer’s text captures the open-hearted enthusiasm of the scrappy Scruff, and entertaining soft-hued illustrations keep the action at dog’seye level; readers see only the bottom half of any of the humans.
—The Horn Book

This adorable story draws the reader in as one feels compassion for Scruff in his loneliness and joy when he finally finds a home of his own. Young children will be drawn to the simple words and colorful art.
—School Library Connection

From the Publisher

02/01/2016
PreS-Gr 2—Scruff, a homeless dog, finds a home, thanks to his love of digging. While the posh neighborhood dogs and their prissy owners look down on his favorite occupation, Scruff doesn't let that dampen his enthusiasm for "digging and digging." When he finds a pile of bones in the woods and indications there are even more below, he begs the other dogs to help him dig them up. While the dogs are initially reluctant to get dirty, the lure of bones entices them, and together, they unearth 100 bones unlike anything they've ever seen. The five canines bring samples to the Natural History Museum where Professor Dinovsky assembles the bones into the "most ferocious dinosaur ever found." Scruff receives a medal for his efforts and, best of all, his own human friend. The digitally created illustrations offer readers a dog's-eye view of the world. Wonderful canine expressions along with their distinctive coats are in full view, but only human legs and hands are visible. The signature red double-decker bus, the museum facade, the dogs sitting near a lion sculpture in Trafalgar Square, and the appearance of a woman with crowns on purse and coat are evidence the dogs are in London. This book includes a winning combination of dogs and dinosaurs, alliteration such as "Sidney the sausage dog" and "Percy the Pug," and lots of humorous details. VERDICT This story of a homeless dog who triumphs in the end is a sure winner.—Marianne Saccardi, Children's Literature Consultant, Greenwich, CT

School Library Journal

2015-12-22
Every dog will have his day, even the scruffiest of strays. Zommer's Scruff is a homeless mutt. Percy the pug, Pixie the poodle, Sydney the dachshund, and Ada the Afghan have collars and "human friends" who groom them. Scruff is a dog's dog: he goes his own way, he trespasses, and, most of all, he digs, usually in the wrong places, like the other dogs' yards. Chased away by their cold, fussy human friends, Scruff makes for the great open spaces where stuffy old humans won't smother his spirit. And lo, his nose leads him to the mother lode: too many bones for one dog to wrestle himself. When he tries to enlist the other four dogs to dig, they demur; when he mentions the word "bones"—hey, presto—their inner dogs emerge. Smart dogs, they bring their find to London's Natural History Museum, where Professor Dinovsky assembles them into the "most ferocious dinosaur ever found." In turn, Dinovsky becomes Scruff's "human friend" but one that encourages his digging. The visual jokes will fly over young heads—the queen's trademark coat and corgis—and "human friend" sounds graspingly correct (why not "caregiver" or "steward"?). Plus, with this bunch of human prigs and grumps, who needs "friends"? The muted, retro-style digital artwork is pretty enough, but it has little personality or warmth. Good for Scruff, though. It's nice to have a "friend" who appreciates your innate talent. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews