Poppy the Pirate Dog: Candlewick Sparks

by Liz Kessler, Mike Phillips (Illustrator)

Overview

“Good pacing and appealing artwork. . . . Engaging fare for young readers.” —Booklist

Poppy the dalmatian can’t wait to go on a seaside vacation with her family; she thinks it will be fun to be a pirate dog. But she’s afraid of boats! After trying—and failing—to be brave on a fishing boat, a seal-spotting cruise, a pedal boat, and a speedboat, Poppy has almost given up. Will she manage to find her pirate ship before the family heads back home? From New York Times best-selling author Liz Kessler comes a full-color early reader for adventurous young scalawags and their pirate pooches.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763676612
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	02/10/2015
Series:	Candlewick Sparks Series
Pages:	64
Sales rank:	426,681
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	540L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

 

Editorial Reviews

Phillips’s playful illustrations rendered in ink and watercolors provide strong context for assistance with word recognition, comprehension, and fluency. In the same vein as Cynthia Rylant’s “Henry and Mudge” books, this well-crafted title is sure to be a hit with early readers
—School Library Journal

The text is divided into short chapters, with a large font and lots of white space around the text blocks to assist new readers. Illustrations in watercolor and ink provide an amusing personality for Poppy...
—Kirkus Reviews

Punchy dialogue and ample artwork nicely gear this to recent picture book graduates.
—Publishers Weekly

An amusing tale for readers who are beyond the beginning stage but not quite ready for full-length chapter books. With its good pacing and appealing artwork, the episodic story also works well as a read-aloud choice. ... Engaging fare for young readers.
—Booklist

Comprised of six chapters, the length of the story makes it suitable for a child who is learning to read independently. Presented in a charming manner, the illustrations contribute to the adventuresome feel. This is a nice addition for children who are still mastering their reading skills.
—Library Media Connection

Perfect for kids looking for an adventurous read.
—Newsday

From the Publisher

Kessler (the Emily Windsnap series) ventures into early chapter books with a chipper story about a would-be seafaring Dalmatian. Poppy is excited about spending a week at the seaside with her humans—and proud of her new neckerchief featuring a skull-and-crossbones pattern (“Don’t mess with me, she thought. I’m a pirate dog”). The family’s boat-centric vacation agenda seems well suited to Poppy’s new life as a pirate, until she discovers that bobbing vessels, splashing waves, and seals that resemble sea monsters aren’t at all to her liking (“Poppy wasn’t feeling very much like a pirate dog anymore”). The narrative slips in and out of Poppy’s mind to humorous effect, easily capturing her alternating bravado and timidity. Recalling Quentin Blake’s work, Phillips’s ink-and-watercolor illustrations fill in the narrative’s blanks and flesh out Poppy’s persona (one moment Poppy is strutting proudly down the boardwalk with a look of roguish determination in her eye; the next, she’s cowering under a berth on a boat). Punchy dialogue and ample artwork nicely gear this to recent picture book graduates. Ages 5–9. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 2—This is a sweet story about a Dalmatian named Poppy and her seaside vacation with her family. Divided into small chapters, the tale starts with Poppy getting a pirate scarf at a local shop. Once it is tied around her neck, she takes on the demeanor of her inner pirate and begins searching for the perfect vessel. As their vacation unfolds, Mom, Dad, and the kids enjoy a fishing excursion, pedal boats, speedboats, and even a boat that spots "sea monsters," none of which suit the pup. It is only when her humans do a bit of research that they come up with the ideal way to spend their last day. "We've found Poppy's perfect pirate ship! It's exactly the right size, it's not too fast, and there are no big scary sea monsters." Phillips's playful illustrations rendered in ink and watercolors provide strong context for assistance with word recognition, comprehension, and fluency. In the same vein as Cynthia Rylant's "Henry and Mudge" books (S & S), this well-crafted title is sure to be a hit with early readers.—Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI

School Library Journal

A family takes a seaside vacation with their Dalmatian, Poppy, who knows all about pirates from listening to books read by her young owner, Tim. When the friendly dog chooses a skull-and-crossbones bandanna for herself, the family dubs her Poppy the Pirate Dog. They decide to take Poppy on a different sort of boat ride each day, but the dog has issues with all the boats: too fast, too slippery or too scary (the seals must be sea monsters!). The family keeps trying to find a pirate ship for Poppy, finally finding an old, red tugboat that suits persnickety Poppy perfectly, and they all enjoy a ride together with a pirate flag flying. Poppy is an appealing pooch, but there isn't much conflict or drama here, nor any pirate talk or swashbuckling adventure. The text is divided into short chapters, with a large font and lots of white space around the text blocks to assist new readers. Illustrations in watercolor and ink provide an amusing personality for Poppy as she resists all the different boat rides and eventually feels like a big, brave dog. An adequate tale with the pull of pirates and pups, but alas, me hearties, no buried treasure here. (Early reader. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews