Ruff

No one has ever cared enough to have a birthday party for a woolly dog, until he is taken in by some other toys that give him not one, but seven parties

PreSchool-Grade 2-One day, Old Bear and his friends hear an odd noise outside. When the stuffed animals open the door to investigate, in bounces an abandoned woolly dog. He doesn't know his name and has never had a birthday, so the other toys decide to call him Ruff and give him not one, but a whole weekful of birthdays. Ruff's exuberance and unspoiled sense of wonder mount each day, and are interspersed with wistful thoughts of having to leave his new pals at the end of the week. On the seventh day, however, as he sadly prepares to depart, they surprise him with a beautiful cushion and an invitation to stay. The story is loaded with child appeal and the delicately colored illustrations, chock-full of delightful detail, do a wondrous job of expanding upon the text. This handsomely designed book, with its indomitable Airedale protagonist and loving message, will appeal to children and parents alike.
Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Using the appealing cast of stuffed animals that she introduced in Old Bear (1986) author/illustrator Hissey creates a sweet, old-fashioned tale about a little dog who finds a home. When Old Bear and the others hear a strange barking noise coming from the garden, they discover a little dog who has neither name nor home. The poor thing has never even had a birthday. So Old Bear and his pals set about righting the wrongs, giving the little stranger- -now called Ruff--a birthday party every day for a week to make up for all the birthdays he never had. The parties are such fun, and his new friends so nice, that Ruff hates to see the week come to an end. But to his surprise, the animals open their paws and hearts, and Ruff has a home at last. Ruff's adventures are rendered in Hissey's distinctive style, which uses a vivid palette and carefully delineated drawings to illustrate the toys and settings of some idyllic time before the onslaught of plastic, glitter, and electronic voices transformed kids' toys--and lives--forever. An engaging, warmhearted tale in which the delicious, nostalgic illustrations are the chief delight. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Ages 4-7. When Old Bear and the other stuffed toys open the nursery door to a loud "ruff! ruff!" in comes a woolly toy dog. Upon questioning, the bouncy dog admits he has never had a birthday in all his seven years. To make up for it, the other stuffed toys give him a week of birthdays, with each day bringing the dog, named Ruff, a birthday cake and a stronger wish to make the nursery his home. At his last party, Ruff is given a beautiful cushion: "We'd like you to stay with us, Ruff. This is your very own place to sleep." Hissey's colorful, comfortable illustrations are just right for the sentimental tale; the stuffed animals never lose their toylike demeanor, but they definitely have an engaging, lively glint in their eyes. And, of course, the week-long birthday party is sure to appeal to young children eager for birthdays of their own. Janice Del Negro