Our Puppies Are Growing: Stage 1 (Let'S-Read-And-Find-Out Science. Stage 1)

Seven adorable puppies are born blind and helpless, but they change quickly into lively young dogs in a story about how puppies develop inside their mother, and how they grow, including useful tips on how to care for puppies.

PreSchool-Grade 2-Simple and clear best describe this offering. A young unnamed girl begins, "When I put my arms around our dog, she feels fatter than she used to. She has puppies growing inside her...." When shown pictures of what is happening inside the dog's womb, the child marvels at how the puppies change and grow. The birth sequence is quite sanitary. "When the first puppy is born at last, it looks like he's in a plastic bag." Care of the new puppies and their mother is covered. The story ends with finding new homes for the litter and some advice on how to handle newborns. Bright, pleasant illustrations accompany the text, giving the book a happy, cozy look. Even mama dog (who appears to be a golden retriever) seems to be smiling. No new ground is covered here, but the simplicity is perfect for young children.
Jane Claes, T. J. Lee Elementary School, Irving, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 1. Both factual and cuddly, this title in the excellent Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series presents a lot of information through the story of a preschooler whose dog gives birth to puppies. First she listens to the puppies moving inside her dog's belly. Then, with her brother, she watches the seven puppies being born. Over the weeks, she watches them grow and helps care for them until they can walk and run and eat by themselves. The physicalness of the words is echoed in the bright line-and-watercolor pictures that show the child and her family taking care of the puppies, recording their weight and size, watching their eyes open, and playing with them. The combination of pet story and animal data will draw in new readers, and teachers will welcome Otto's suggestions for discussion and simple projects. Hazel Rochman