The Dog Who Cried Wolf - Hardcover

Kasza, Keiko

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0399242473 ISBN 13: 9780399242472

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2005

Synopsis

Moka is a good dog. But when Michelle, his little girl, reads him a book about wolves, being a good dog suddenly seems awfully boring. Wolves get to run around doing whatever they want. No one ever makes a wolf dress up for a tea party.

So Moka decides to run away to the wild. But what will happen when the real wolves show up?

For any kid who's tired of being good, Moka's antics will be a vicarious treat.

About this title

About the Author

Keiko Kasza was born on a small Japanese island in the Inland Sea of Japan. She grew up in a typical Japanese extended family with her parents, two brothers, and grandparents. Uncles, aunts, and cousins also lived nearby. "All the steps I took growing up were very normal," Ms. Kasza says. "The only unusual thing I did was go to college in the United States." She graduated with a degree in graphic design from California State University at Northridge. Ms. Kasza married an American, and the United States has been her home ever since.

After publishing five children's books in Japan and working as a graphic designer for fourteen years, Ms. Kasza decided in 1988 to devote her time to picture books. She says, "Having two small boys and two professions was too much to handle."

Ms. Kasza admires many great picture-book creators, such as Leo Lionni and Maurice Sendak, but says that the work of Arnold Lobel has influenced her the most. The subtle humor and warmth he created in his books continues to inspire me," she says. "I often go back to his work when I get discouraged or lose confidence."

Ms. Kasza compares the process of making a book to acting on stage under the lights:
"I become the character that I'm working on at that moment. I pretend that I'm a bird looking for a mother, or a pig trying to impress his girlfriend. When I'm acting, I'm a child myself."

Ms. Kasza's ambition is not to create a hundred books, but to "create one really good book that will be kept on the family bookshelves for generations, although a hundred really good books would be even better, of course!"

Keiko Kasza lives in Indiana with her husband and two sons.

copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.
Keiko Kasza was born on a small Japanese island in the Inland Sea of Japan. She grew up in a typical Japanese extended family with her parents, two brothers, and grandparents. Uncles, aunts, and cousins also lived nearby. "All the steps I took growing up were very normal," Ms. Kasza says. "The only unusual thing I did was go to college in the United States." She graduated with a degree in graphic design from California State University at Northridge. Ms. Kasza married an American, and the United States has been her home ever since.

After publishing five children's books in Japan and working as a graphic designer for fourteen years, Ms. Kasza decided in 1988 to devote her time to picture books. She says, "Having two small boys and two professions was too much to handle."

Ms. Kasza admires many great picture-book creators, such as Leo Lionni and Maurice Sendak, but says that the work of Arnold Lobel has influenced her the most. The subtle humor and warmth he created in his books continues to inspire me," she says. "I often go back to his work when I get discouraged or lose confidence."

Ms. Kasza compares the process of making a book to acting on stage under the lights:
"I become the character that I'm working on at that moment. I pretend that I'm a bird looking for a mother, or a pig trying to impress his girlfriend. When I'm acting, I'm a child myself."

Ms. Kasza's ambition is not to create a hundred books, but to "create one really good book that will be kept on the family bookshelves for generations, although a hundred really good books would be even better, of course!"

Keiko Kasza lives in Indiana with her husband and two sons.

copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. Just as a white dog with black spots named Harry (as in Harry the Dirty Dog) once ran away from home for a more exciting life, so does Moka, a white dog with brown spots. When Moka's owner, Michelle, reads aloud from a book about wolves, Moka compares his tame existence to theirs and leaves to try a more wolflike life. With an effective variety of page layouts, the expressive pen-and-watercolor pictures show him dashing off on his adventures, where he jumped and danced and "peed wherever he wanted." But finding food is difficult, and his final goal, to howl like a wolf, proves scary, indeed, as reflected in the large, dark sky that dwarfs the little dog. Thanks to excellent pacing, children will get caught up in the childlike Moka's emotions: the pleasure of being free, the loneliness of night, and the exuberant reunion with Michelle, captured in a large, light-filled close-up. A final twist provides the perfect end to this appealing tale that will lend itself to storytime or one-on-one reading. Kathleen Odean
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0399242473
• ISBN 13: 9780399242472
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Kasza Keiko