Poppy the Pirate Dog - Hardcover

Kessler, Liz

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 076366569X ISBN 13: 9780763665692

Publisher: Candlewick, 2013

Synopsis

Best-selling author Liz Kessler makes her first foray into early fiction with a funny tale about an aspiring pirate dog who is afraid of boats.

Poppy the dalmatian can’t wait to go on a seaside vacation with her family. And when they tie a skull-and-crossbones scarf around her neck, she’s sure a pirate’s life of adventure on the open seas awaits. But to be a pirate dog, Poppy must find her perfect pirate ship. Unfortunately, boats bob up and down a lot. Waves splash over the side. Strange creatures live in the water. After trying — and failing — to be a brave pirate dog on a fishing boat, a seal-spotting cruise, a pedal boat, and a speedboat, Poppy has almost given up. Will she manage to find her pirate ship before the family heads back home? From New York Times best-selling author Liz Kessler comes a full-color early reader for adventurous young scalawags and their pirate pooches.

About this title

About the Author

Liz Kessler is the author of the beloved Emily Windsnap series, as well as the Philippa Fisher series and the novels A Year Without Autumn and North of Nowhere. She says that Poppy the Pirate Dog is based on her own beautiful dog, Poppy. “After we moved near the ocean, we bought her a skull-and-crossbones scarf,” she says. “But the funny thing is that she’s a bit scared of water, and that was the inspiration behind this story.” Liz Kessler lives in Cornwall, England.

Mike Phillips has been illustrating everything from picture books to the gruesome Horrible Histories series for almost twenty years. He lives in a small fishing village in England with his family and thinks his own dog, who is also named Poppy—believe it or not!—may want to be a pirate dog as well.

Reviews

K-Gr 2-This is a sweet story about a Dalmatian named Poppy and her seaside vacation with her family. Divided into small chapters, the tale starts with Poppy getting a pirate scarf at a local shop. Once it is tied around her neck, she takes on the demeanor of her inner pirate and begins searching for the perfect vessel. As their vacation unfolds, Mom, Dad, and the kids enjoy a fishing excursion, pedal boats, speedboats, and even a boat that spots "sea monsters," none of which suit the pup. It is only when her humans do a bit of research that they come up with the ideal way to spend their last day. "We've found Poppy's perfect pirate ship! It's exactly the right size, it's not too fast, and there are no big scary sea monsters." Phillips's playful illustrations rendered in ink and watercolors provide strong context for assistance with word recognition, comprehension, and fluency. In the same vein as Cynthia Rylant's "Henry and Mudge" books (S & S), this well-crafted title is sure to be a hit with early readers.-Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MIα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

While on vacation with her family, Suzy, a dalmatian, decides she loves her new skull-and-crossbones bandanna so much that she needs a persona to match. And so she becomes Poppy the Pirate Dog. Though Poppy dreams of adventures on the high seas, in reality, a fishing-boat jaunt leaves her feeling wet and wobbly. Short voyages on a seal-spotting boat, a pedal boat, and a speed boat don’t suit her, either. Dejected, she wonders if she is a pirate dog. Finally, her sympathetic family finds just the right vessel to enjoy with Poppy. Best known for writing the Emily Windsnap series, Kessler offers an amusing tale for readers who are beyond the beginning stage but not quite ready for full-length chapter books. With its good pacing and appealing artwork, the episodic story also works well as a read-aloud choice. Phillips, who clearly understands canine body language, contributes a series of expressive ink-and-watercolor illustrations that brighten the pages while heightening the humor. Engaging fare for young readers. Grades K-3. --Carolyn Phelan

Edition details

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 076366569X
• ISBN 13: 9780763665692
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Phillips Mike
• Number of pages: 64