Review #2: THE POKY LITTLE PUPPY

Bibliography

Lowrey, Janette Sebring.  1942.  The Poky Little Puppy.  Ill. by Gustaf Tenggren.  Racine, WI:  Golden Books Publishing.  ISBN 0307160262

Plot Summary

A litter of puppies repeatedly disregard their mother’s instructions to dig a hole under the fence and explore the world outside the yard.  One, slower than the others, keeps getting home later than the others and avoiding their punishment of missing out on dessert—until the end, when he is punished after the siblings try to do what their mother says.

Analysis

This is a very simply told story in which essentially the same sequence happens three times, with small variations each time and a major turnabout at the end.  The repetition provides an element of predictability that can appeal to children, but the book is not truly a “predictable”.  Though the misbehaving puppies all get their comeuppance, the story is not strongly didactic.

Tenggren’s illustrations are semi-realistic, combining closely-observed details with an element of cartooning.  The puppies encounter common creatures that most children will recognize, such as a frog and a grasshopper.  The text is separated in blocks above or below the illustrations.  The illustrations are all in full color, which was still somewhat unusual at the time the book was first published.

The story is very slight, but children should identify with the child-like animal characters and enjoy their little adventures.  Obviously they have, given the book’s continuing popularity over such a long time.

Review Excerpt

“The classic story of naughty puppies and their backyard adventures—complete with fuzzy caterpillars, musical flowers, crickets and frogs and all topped off with dessert—is sure to be a favorite yet again.”  KIRKUS REVIEWS (Review of 2011 e-book release).

Connections:

*Ask the children why the puppies’ mother didn’t want them leaving the yard.  Was she afraid they would get lost, get into trouble, etc.?  Why do parents make rules?

*The puppies wanted to see the world.  What makes going to see new places fun?