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My Dog and I: A Picture Book

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My Dog and I: A Picture Book

Hardcover

$20.99

Hardcover
$20.99

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Overview

My Dog and I is a delightfully imaginative picture book about a little girl who’s always wanted a dog, showing us that love knows no bounds, from award-winning creators, author Luca Tortolini and illustrator Felicita Sala.

Out for a walk one day, a girl stumbles upon a lost “dog.” Having always wanted a dog of her own, she brings the “little” creature home and takes care of it in secret, hiding it from her parents. Proud of her new “dog,” she plays with it, feeds it, and even takes it around town—much to the chagrin of the townspeople and other kids who have been mean to her in the past.

But one day, when her “little” friend gets the urge to chase something and ends up wandering off, she finds herself with too much sadness to bear. Will she ever find her “dog” again?

Product Details
About the Author

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781990252303
Publisher:	Milky Way Picture Books
Publication date:	11/21/2023
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	543,148
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 11.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Felicita Sala is the self-taught illustrator of several picture books, including Be a Tree! by Maria Gianferrari and The Hideout by Susanna Mattiangeli, as well as her own book of recipes for children, What’s Cooking at 10 Garden Street? She grew up between Italy and Australia and now lives in Rome, Italy, with her family.

From the B&N Reads Blog

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Editorial Reviews

09/25/2023
“I’ve always wanted a dog,” confesses the brown-skinned, blue-eyed child who narrates this droll adventure sporting a lavender toque and red glasses. “And then one day, as I was walking in the park, I found one.” Readers realize right away that the furry creature is much too big to be a pup; passersby start when they see the large, lumbering brown beast following the child home. “I’ll take care of you,” Tortolini writes in the child’s voice. An attempt to find the animal’s owner leads nowhere, and the creature, which is both cuddly with the child and intimidating to others, offers companionship and security. The youth is bereft when the animal disappears, but events soon offer consolation in the form of another animal: “A cat!” The book’s most moving passages describe the way the first beast transforms the child’s life—“The big kids don’t pull my hair like they did before”—while soft, pastel-like lines and touches of warm, saturated color from Sala (As Night Falls) invite readers into the intimacy that the two share. It’s an extended, fully developed tale of mistaken identity that examines how a happenstance meeting can take one to a place of care and community. Ages 4–8. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

"Soft jewel-toned watercolors are enlivened with spots of bright colors and detailed lines in this tongue-in-cheek picture book that’s perfect for animal lovers."

Foreword

a charmer of a book . . . A furry friendship certain to be the envy of young readers everywhere.”
—Kirkus

"Soft jewel-toned watercolors are enlivened with spots of bright colors and detailed lines in this tongue-in-cheek picture book that’s perfect for animal lovers."—Foreword

From the Publisher

01/12/2024
PreS-Gr 2—In this whimsical tale, a little girl who has always wanted a dog happens to find one in a park—and young readers will delight to note that her "dog" is actually a bear. Although onlookers appear distressed, the unnamed narrator of the story happily brings the creature home to play. Having a bear as a pet dog comes with benefits: bullies leave her alone and she's able to conquer her fear of the dark with a comforting, furry mass tucked into bed beside her. But happiness is fleeting, and the bear disappears one day. The narrator struggles, but comes to terms with loss. Eventually she stumbles upon a cat—actually, a lion—and learns to be happy again. In an extended conclusion, the bear reappears, along with his family, and the narrator is even happier. Although the story goes on a little too long, it carries an affirming message of resilience, as the narrator goes through periods of joy and pain and is able to find contentment. Too, although it is never explicitly stated, the narrative encourages readers to revel in imaginary play. Large, colorful illustrations feature delightful details and an effective use of color, turning to melancholy shades of blue and grey when the narrator is at her lowest point. Ethnic diversity is included through the depiction of a variety of skin tones among the narrator and supporting cast. VERDICT A solid purchase for large picture book collections, especially where animal stories are popular. A good choice for story times about imagination and emotions.—Allison Tran

School Library Journal

2023-08-26
Just your typical lost pet tale, with a significant twist.
One day a bespectacled child finds a bear in the park. Or, as the young narrator puts it, “I’ve always wanted a dog. And then one day…I found one.” Convinced that the creature is a rather large canine, the youngster builds him a home and finds him to be a delightful companion, fond of games and dress-up. The protagonist puts up Lost Dog signs, but no one claims him. Better still, bullies leave the child alone, and even the dark has lost its more frightening qualities. Unfortunately, one day the “dog” runs away, and the child must come to terms with this loss. The book then proceeds to give readers not one but two endings. The child finds a lost “kitty” (with a significant mane), and the “dog” and his new family return. This second ending feels superfluous in what is otherwise a charmer of a book, its warm predator/prey relationship much in the same vein as Judith Kerr’s The Tiger Who Came to Tea (1968). Sala, serving both as artist and translator for this tale originally written in Italian by Tortolini, drenches the book in jewel tones that exude a singular comfort. The protagonist is brown-skinned; other characters are diverse.
A furry friendship certain to be the envy of young readers everywhere. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews

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Overview

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About the Author

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