(Susanna Leonard Hill is the originator of PPBF and you can find all the other PPB recommendations and links on her blog.)
I must preface this review with a WARNing….while in the middle of reading the book you are going to want to get a sketchbook and colored pencils and create (whether you’re an artist or not). Even the cover will inspire your creative side.
Title: Dog Loves Drawing (A sequel to Dog Loves Books)
Author & Illustrator: Louise Yates
Publisher: Alfred Knopf, 2012
Genre: Picture Book Fiction
Audience Age: 3 & up
Themes/Topics: Drawing & Imagination
Opening Sentences: Dog loved books! He loved books so much that he opened his own bookshop.
Synopsis: Dog receives a blank book as a gift from his aunt. Realizing it is a sketchbook he begins to doodle and draw stick characters that come to life in his sketchbook adventure.
Why I like it: What’s not to like? It’s adorably cute with Dog, and his scribbles of stick people, a duck an owl and a crab. The characters draw their adventure on a train, a boat and an island. It’s action packed as they all grab colored pencils and draw and doodle their way through the fun. After reading this story to my grandgirls I brought out sketchbooks and a huge box of colored pencils. They shrieked with delight and the 2 1/2 year old said, Now we can draw like dog! One little caveat…there is a monster drawn at the end (not terribly menacing) who is restrained when Dog draws a barricaded door….but my 4 year old grandgirl got a little worried. I had to convince her that it was just pretend and explained that it was funny. I drew a monster in her sketch book and then she scribbled him out–which she then thought was hilarious. And moms will appreciate that dog also draws a thank-you card to send to his aunt. The drawings are delightfully simple at the beginning. They become a little more elaborate as the story progresses. They are colorful and more than their eye appeal they make you feel like you can draw an adventure too!
Activities/Resources: Instructions to make your own sketchbook, a list of fun ideas to draw here, and here’s a fun site to boost adult creativity even for non-artists.
Availability: Immediate from all major booksellers. Amazon, Barnes & Noble
I am now going to get my sketchbook and draw a lovely overstuffed chair with lots of books beside it, a warm afghan, a cappuccino with extra whip cream, and maybe even a dog in my lap (or a cat…).
Blessings and enjoy the book!
Laura (Grandma Miller)
Adorable! But then you had me at “dog.”
Aha – another victim of canine-itis!
A real winner, Laura, even for a non-artist like me.
As creative as you are, Joanna, I know there’s at least a stick character artist in you!! 🙂
What a delightful book. And obviously, it does what it is intended to do if your grand-girls are inspired to draw, and draw and draw again!
And draw they did! Even their 15 mo old brother was in on it…well he was in the pencil box anyway.
Have to check this one out! Thanks, Laura 😀
Have fun Lori…and don’t forget Dog Loves Books, too.
You are the smartest Grandma ever to have sketchbooks and colored pencils ready for the kids after the story. What’s better than a blank book and some new pencils or crayons. NOTHING! That’s what! I love it.
My daughter has always kept journals…I’ve tried…but there are only ever 1 or 2 entries….but ah…drawing…that’s the true passion.
What a neat idea! Clever doggy
Yes- I think he deserves a doggie treat!!
Our themes were a little similar today. Love a drawing dog. Agree with Genevivieve, you are a smart Grandma to have sketchbooks ready. What a fun time. Great choice.
Only smart because I’d rather be drawing than doing dishes!!!
I love this book! I love that he gets a blank book and starts drawing. And I really like that he thanks his aunt at the end. Like you, I grabbed my colored pencils and played in my journal…
Good for you, Sue!
One of my most favorite books! My buddy Walker and I sometimes paint with kids at school. Much much fun! Thanks for your review!
Rhythm, I knew you would give this a paws up!
Laura, you were so right, where are my pencils!
Thank you for the rainy Sunday activity…
Watch today’s blog (as soon as I get it posted for a suggested sequel project). 🙂
Great pick, Laura. I have to laugh when I see Dog again, because recently I was watching a young man at the library, and something looked so terribly familiar about him. I finally realized he looked just like Dog from this book!
hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!
Link up here for a fun activity to go with this book.