Skinny Brown Dog - Hardcover

Holt, Kimberly Willis

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805075879 ISBN 13: 9780805075878

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 2007

Synopsis

A charming story about an unlikely friendship by National Book Award–winning author Kimberly Willis Holt

Benny the baker leads a simple life. He makes delicious cakes, cookies and muffins, and keeps his customers well fed and happy. When a skinny brown dog shows up on Benny's doorstep, nothing Benny says can convince him to go away. While Benny insists that the dog isn't his, customers soon grow as fond of the skinny brown dog as they are of Benny's yummy treats. The children even name him Brownie―the perfect name for a baker's dog.

Benny starts to wonder what it might be like to have a dog of his own. But it's not until Brownie comes to his rescue that Benny realizes a dog can make a very good friend. Full of winning characters (and delicious treats!), this book celebrates a very special friendship.

About this title

About the Author

Kimberly Willis Holt is the author of the Piper Reed series, including Piper Reed, Navy Brat, Piper Reed, Clubhouse Queen, and Piper Reed, Rodeo Star. She has written many award-winning novels, including The Water Seeker and My Louisiana Sky, as well as the picture books Waiting for Gregory and Skinny Brown Dog. Holt was born in Pensacola, Florida, and lived all over the U.S. and the world―from Paris to Norfolk to Guam to New Orleans. She long dreamed of being a writer, but first worked as a radio news director, marketed a water park, and was an interior decorator, among other jobs. A few years after she started writing, her third book, When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, won a National Book Award for Young People's Literature. She resides in West Texas with her family.

Donald Saaf has illustrated many picture books, including Pushkin Minds the Bundle, The Easter Bunny that Overslept and Wee G. He lives in Saxtons River, Vermont.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3—Benny the polar bear has a bakery. Once a week he puts up a sign that says, "Free Broken Cookies Day" and the "children"—a squirrel, a hedgehog, and a bird—love to stop for a treat. One day a bowler-wearing "skinny brown dog" with white markings enters the shop. Benny immediately tells him that "dogs aren't allowed in my bakery" but gives him some food. The illustrations, which vary in size, show a pup who oozes personality as he politely removes his hat before returning a dropped purse to Mrs. Patterson the elephant. When she compliments the baker on his smart dog, Benny replies, "He's not my dog," and she winks knowingly at Brownie as he hangs out outside the bakery. Sure enough, Benny begins to imagine Brownie lying by the fireplace in his home. Acrylic paint, gouache, watercolors, and color pencil in somewhat muted tones give a realistic, weather-beaten look to buildings, and expressive faces and postures bring the characters to life. The polar bear is wearing a white chef's hat and coat, yet the white shades are distinctive, and the animals' clothing is patterned and colorful. At the end of the story, a new sign is posted proclaiming "everyone welcome." This is a well-crafted picture book that children will appreciate; they are most likely to pick up on the theme of exclusion and enjoy the humorous details and happy ending.—Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA
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About this edition

• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0805075879
• ISBN 13: 9780805075878
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Saaf Donald