Chowder (A Chowder Book) - Softcover

Brown, Peter

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0316200883 ISBN 13: 9780316200882

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012

Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author Peter Brown comes a hilarious and heartwarming story that introduces a uniquely endearing character: a weird but loveable bulldog who learns to make friends by being true to his quirks.
As hard as he tries, Chowder has never managed to fit in with the other neighborhood dogs. While the neighborhood dogs are content to fetch newspapers and take walks, Chowder spends his days on the computer, dancing with his headphones, and using his favorite toy of all, his telescope. But being different makes Chowder lonely. When a petting zoo opens, Chowder is determined to make friends with the zoo animals. And with a strong kick and a flying leap, Chowder finally finds a place where he can be comfortable being his silly, slobbery self.

About this title

About the Author:

Peter Brown is the author and illustrator of many bestselling children's books, including Children Make Terrible Pets and The Curious Garden. He is the recipient of a Caldecott Honor for Creepy Carrots!, two E.B. White Read Aloud Awards, a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book award, and a Children's Choice Award for Illustrator of the Year. Peter's website is www.peterbrownstudio.com.

From Booklist:

*Starred Review* "Chowder has always been different." It's hard to disagree when the illustration shows Chowder the bulldog doing his business on the toilet. But that's not the only way he stands out: he rides mechanical horses, and though other dogs collect bones, he uses them in paleontology projects. His devoted owners, the Wubbingtons, are perhaps responsible for his singularity: they carry him in a baby pack and let him use their computer. Still, he longs for animal friends, so when a petting zoo opens, he eagerly makes a visit. Alas, while trying to play with the animals, he kicks their ball into a tree, thus alienating his potential pals. But distressed Chowder makes a comeback when he spots the ball in a tree and valiantly attempts to retrieve it. Yes, he starts to fall, but the other animals rescue him. Everything works here. The tongue-in-cheek humor melds delightfully with Brown's distinctive acrylic-and-pencil artwork. The characters have such a sturdy appearance, they look as though they could be carved from wood, and high-gloss finish gives the art a computer-enhanced look. Inventive is the best word to describe the design--as when Brown uses the book's gutter to move Chowder from the zoo's bathroom (where he's doing his business again) to the tree. But along with the glitz, there's also a real story here, starring a winsome protagonist. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0316200883
• ISBN 13: 9780316200882
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32