The Stray Dog
"It was a great day for a picnic." These are the first words of a story based on an actual event as related to the book's creator by Reiko Sassa. The real picture story begins several pages before the first words of text appear, when a family of four packs the car in preparation for a picnic in the park, and notices a stray dog. The children play with him, and even give him a name. The parents prevail, however, when the boy and girl want to take Willy home. "He must belong to somebody, and they would miss him." As it turns out, it's each member of the picnicking family who misses him, all week long. The next weekend they head for the same picnic table in the hope that Willy will reappear. He does, but this time he's being chased by the dog warden. Young children will relish seeing how the boy and girl spontaneously solve the ownership dilemma. Simont's watercolor paintings perfectly reflect the varying moods. ©2001 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Illustrated by Marc Simont
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 3-6
Age Range:
Babies/Toddlers (birth – 3)
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Animals (Fiction)
Families
Humor
Lost and Found
Pets
Publisher:
HarperCollins
Publish Year: 2001
Pages: 32
ISBN: 0060289333
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Simont