Our Very Own Dog: Taking Care of Your First Pet

by Amanda McCardie, Salvatore Rubbino (Illustrator)

Overview

If you have a new dog companion—or want to adopt one—here’s a story full of facts that tells you everything you need to know.

There’s nothing more exciting than getting a dog! Join Sophie’s new human family as they prepare their home for her and introduce her to life as a beloved pet. Follow along as they learn about bedding and bowls, treats and training, walks and washing—and even an unexpected dog show! Factual notes run alongside the simple story, offering tips that will help turn tentative dog adopters into doting experts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763689483
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	01/10/2017
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,093,690
Product dimensions:	10.70(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Amanda McCardie is the author of several books for young readers, most recently A Book of Feelings. She says, “Sophie is dear to my heart. She was the cheery, cheeky little dog I grew up with in real life.” Amanda McCardie lives in London.

Salvatore Rubbino is the award-winning illustrator of Just Ducks!, A Walk in London, A Walk in New York, and A Walk in Paris. He says, “I have always been fond of cats. But by studying dogs and watching their fascinating behavior, I now find that I love dogs, too!” Salvatore Rubbino lives in London.

Editorial Reviews

11/21/2016
In calm, authoritative narration, a girl describes how her family’s new dog, Sophie, acclimated to her new home after being adopted. Her observations about common dog behaviors (“Sophie never minded getting dirty. One day, she splashed through every puddle in the park, then shook out her fur to get dry”) will be familiar to many readers with dogs, and assorted tips and facts, scattered across the pages, echo the girl’s comments (“Shaking is a highly efficient way for a dog to get dry—much quicker than a towel!”). Rubbino’s loose, smudgy, mixed-media art calls to mind finger painting, warmly capturing the activity—and occasional chaos—of life with a dog. Families in the early stages of bringing a dog into their lives should find this a reassuring guide to understanding their new pet. Ages 3–7. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

A family lovingly adopts a dog with much preparation in this cheerful tale that's full of helpful hints for aspiring dog owners...Three cheers for Sophie! Perfect fuel for dog lovers' fires.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The illustrations, rendered in mixed media, are colorful and fun, with an added touch of whimsy...Ideal as a conversation starter for families contemplating adopting a dog, this will also serve as a handbook for the very young in the early stages of welcoming a furry addition to the family.
—School Library Journal

Rubbino’s speedy and informal watercolors move smoothly from focused vignettes to wide-open park spaces, and spotted Sophie beams with scruffy cheer. Wannabe pet owners will particularly appreciate the vicarious experience, and it will be a good step up to Calmenson’s May I Pet Your Dog?
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

01/01/2017
PreS-Gr 3—After living in an animal shelter, Sophie the dog now has a home of her very own. The members of her new family have done their research and are very well prepared for her arrival. They have provided food, bedding, toys, and items to keep Sophie safe, such as a leash, collar, and name tag. Sophie is tentative at first but soon learns the routine of the family and even a few commands. Things are not always perfect, but there is plenty of love and forgiveness in her new home, and lots of fun, too. This title is chock-full of information for new and prospective dog owners. In addition to the main story line, there are also tips in an italicized font on each page for raising a dog and creating a healthy environment for it. Topics range from bathing and grooming to proper dog park etiquette. The illustrations, rendered in mixed media, are colorful and fun, with an added touch of whimsy. The endpapers are covered with canines of a variety of breeds, and readers will enjoy seeing how many they can identify, even though the breed names are not listed. VERDICT Ideal as a conversation starter for families contemplating adopting a dog, this will also serve as a handbook for the very young in the early stages of welcoming a furry addition to the family.—Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

School Library Journal

★ 2016-11-16
A family lovingly adopts a dog with much preparation in this cheerful tale that's full of helpful hints for aspiring dog owners. When Sophie first arrives from the animal shelter she finds a home equipped with everything she needs: a bed, food, toys, collar—and most of all, kind, patient people. Together they teach Sophie commands, walk, bathe, and play with her, and ultimately earn her trust. The astute 4-year-old narrator affectionately notes Sophie's mischievous side, as the pooch digs holes and innocently snatches sausages from the dinner table. Readers will fall for Sophie's sweet antics while absorbing useful canine information. Playful illustrations fluidly communicate various situations and the accompanying emotions of Sophie and her dark-haired, light-skinned family. Done in mixed media, Rubbino's drawings are spontaneous and full of energy. He masterfully creates a pleasing and entertaining visual narrative to accompany a story that largely presents factual information. Complete with an index and recommended reading, McCardie's text successfully twines fiction with nonfiction. Three cheers for Sophie! Perfect fuel for dog lovers' fires. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews