Good Boy - Hardcover

Ruzzier, Sergio

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1481499068 ISBN 13: 9781481499064

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2019

Synopsis

A New York Times Best Children’s Book of 2019

A boy and a dog embark on an out-of-this-world adventure in this whimsical picture book from award-winning author-illustrator Sergio Ruzzier.

This is the story of a boy and his dog.

Or is it a dog and his boy?

Either way, it’s a playful story of friendship and adventure!

About this title

About the Author

Sergio Ruzzier has written and illustrated many celebrated picture books, including We Give Thanks by Cynthia Rylant and his own Good Boy, A Letter for Leo, and the Fox and Chick series, the first book in which received a Geisel Honor. His work has been awarded by American Illustration, The Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, The Society of Publication Designers, and Parents’ Choice. In 2011, he received the Sendak Fellowship. Sergio lives in Italy, and you can visit him at Ruzzier.com.

Reviews

PreS-Gr 1-A boy and his dog take an unexpected journey in this picture book for early readers. The simple narrative begins with a light-skinned, blond-haired boy and his similarly golden-haired dog scampering across plenty of white space. The boy's commands for the dog appear in large, black text: "Sit. Stay. Roll over." The dog's skills are more advanced than one would expect, however, as the next spread sees him "Stand. Shake. Bow." From there, it becomes clear that this canine has more in common with Gromit than with the average house pet. While he can certainly "Fetch" and "Jump," he can also "Juggle," "Cook. Serve," and "Clean." After sharing a meal, the two friends venture outdoors into a strikingly colorful landscape, taking a bike, a boat, and eventually a rocket ship on a brief, out-of-this world trip. The day ends with the dog tucking in his boy with a story, a song, and after the boy's request to "Stay," a snuggle. Ruzzier's distinctive cartoon-style, ink and watercolor illustrations propel most of the story, offering plenty of visual interest and cues for pre-readers to decode the limited text. The boy, with his drooping socks, and his belly occasionally protruding from under his T-shirt, is realistically childlike and charming. VERDICT A simple yet surprising friendship story, perfect for preschool audiences and for those just beginning to read. A first ­purchase.-Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MNα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1481499068
• ISBN 13: 9781481499064
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Ruzzier Sergio
• Number of pages: 40