A Dog Called Kitty - Hardcover

Wallace, Bill

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0823403769 ISBN 13: 9780823403769

Publisher: Holiday House, 1980

Synopsis

The puppy was small and fuzzy, with a friendly, wagging tail ― and Ricky was afraid of him!

No wonder, since he was attacked by a dog when he was just a baby. So when a stray puppy comes sniffling around the farm, Ricky tells it to get lost.

But the puppy keeps trying to play with Ricky. And every time Ricky's Mom feeds the cats, the little dog comes running. The cats aren't sharing their food, however, and the poor pup is slowly starving.

If Ricky doesn't overcome his fear, the little puppy may die ― but if he lets himself get close enough to feed it, he may find the best friend he's ever had!

Winner of the Texas Bluebonnet, the Oklahoma Sequoyah and the Nebraska Golden Sower Awards.

About this title

About the Author

Award-winning author Bill Wallace started writing after a tough year of teaching fourth graders. As he says, “Trying to read to a class of 25 kids who aren't listening is downright MISERABLE. Finally, students asked me to tell stories about when I was growing up. I soon ran out of these, so they decided I should make up new stories. I became a writer so I could survive my first year as a teacher. The class loved the stories I wrote for them and persuaded me to get somebody to make us a real book.” Shadow on the Snow, Trapped in Death Cave, and A Dog Called Kitty all started out as books for his students. However, it took ten long years for his first book (A Dog Called Kitty) to be accepted for publication. Since then, this former elementary-school teacher has written over 25 books and won numerous awards. Other favorites include: Red Dog, Buffalo Gal, Danger in Quicksand Swamp, Beauty, Aloha Summer, Watchdog and the Coyotes, and Coyote Autumn.

Wallace was born on August 1, 1947 in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He is married to Carol Ann Priddle (who also taught elementary school) and has three children, Laurie Beth, Amanda Nicole, and Justin Keith. He attended university and graduate school in Oklahoma. 

From AudioFile

Ricky overcomes his deep fear of dogs to rescue a starving puppy, eventually growing to love his misfit dog named Kitty. Ganser's Midwestern accent lends authenticity and completeness to this tale set in Oklahoma. Reading Ricky's long narrative, he easily adjusts his tones to the young character's many emotions. Ganser's mature intonations neatly mimic the few adult parts required. Describing the deadly fight against the feral dog pack, Ganser fills the listener with such intense emotion that the scene seems real. Despite the sadder scenes, Ganser's rendering of the story's end enhances the positive aspects of the plot and leaves the listener feeling happy and hopeful. P.A.J. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Edition details

• Publisher: Holiday House
• Publication date: 1980
• ISBN 10: 0823403769
• ISBN 13: 9780823403769
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160