The Stray Dog

In this slender but engaging volume, Caldecott Medalist Simont (A Tree Is Nice) retells and illustrates a true story told to him by a friend. Picnicking in the country, a family spies a friendly dog. The brother and sister play with him and even name him, but their parents will not let them take Willy back to their city home. "He must belong to somebody," their mother explains, "and they would miss him." Returning to the same spot the following weekend, they once again see Willy, this time being chased by a dog warden who deems him a stray: "He has no collar. He has no leash." In the tale's most endearing scene, the boy removes his belt and the girl her hair ribbon, which they identify to the warden as Willy's collar and leash: "His name is Willy, and he belongs to us." Simont's art and narrative play off each other strategically, together imparting the tale's humor and tenderness. The final scenes are simple gems of understatement and wit. "They took Willy home" accompanies a full-bleed picture of the children energetically and messily bathing the dog; "And after that... they introduced him to the neighborhood, where he met some very interesting dogs" captions a busy scene of a park full of pooches. A charmer. Ages 4-8. (Jan.) Copyright 2000 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2-A great tale for any kid who's dreamed of adopting a pet. Widely known and admired for his light and breezy illustrations, Simont continues his magic here with the story of an urban family on a weekend picnic in the country who chance upon a scruffy little stray dog that they call Willy. Returning to the city without him but with a whole lot of pet-longing, they while away the week with Willy on their minds. During their next outing, they spy the pup in the clutches of a dogcatcher and immediately resolve to give him a home by claiming him with a belt for a collar and a hair ribbon for a leash. Replete with lively city and country outdoor scenes and a glorious doggy bubble bath, all rendered in gauzy pastel watercolors, The Stray Dog is a showcase for Simont's considerable artistic talent. This good-humored addition is an amusing and predictable read with a happily-ever-after ending.-Mary Ann Carcich, Mattituck-Laurel Public Library, Mattituck, NY Copyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Really splendid artwork...pure Simont...The sentiments are equally direct and elegant, with generosity and affection?.A winner."—"Kirkus Reviews""This picture book has all the earmarks of a classic...Overarching shape, knowledge of audience, small details—Simont gets it all right." —Starred Review, "The Horn Book""Simont's art and narrative play off each other strategically, together imparting the tale's humor and tenderness...A charmer."—Starred Review, "Publishers Weekly""With the tenderness found in his illustrations for Betsy Byars' "My Brother, Ant (1996)," Simont tells a picture-book story of a happy family and a stray."—"Booklist""Replete with lively city and country outdoor scenes and a glorious doggy bubble bath, "The Stray Dog" is a showcase for Simont's considerable artistic talent."—Starred Review, "School Library Journal" "Simont's art possesses its usual deceptive ease and friendly watercolor fluidity. . . . will have pooch-loving kids investigating every park with hope and determination.""Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books