Book cover accessed from: goodreads.comBibliographic data:
Lowrey, Janette Sebring. 1975. THE POKY LITTLE PUPPY. Ill. by Gustaf Tenggren. Wisconsin: Golden Press Western Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 0-307-10418-4
Summary:
The Poky Little Puppy decides not to follow his siblings when they decide to sneak out and play. The puppies had all dug a hole underneath the fence to escape from their yard. Instead he takes his time exploring the world around him and only his siblings get caught. At the start of the story, he is rewarded for being independent. Poky Little Puppy does not get in trouble because he is off exploring and investigating while his mother gets after his siblings, he comes home alone after everyone is asleep. He then eats the rice pudding that his mother had planned to give all the puppies if they had not dug under the fence. The pattern repeats itself, but instead with chocolate custard in place of rice pudding. At the end, fate catches up with Poky Little Puppy, when the puppies are sent to bed without dessert for a third time. The puppies wait for mom to be asleep, sneak out of bed and fill in the hole dug under the fence. Their mother sees them doing this and rewards them with strawberry shortcake. The Poky Little Puppy does not get any strawberry shortcake because he arrives late because he had to squeeze through the fence boards since the hole has been filled in. “So poky little puppy had to go to bed without a single bite of shortcake, and he felt very sorry for himself.”[1]
Critical analysis:
The protagonist in the story is the Poky Little Puppy. As the characters, Poky and his siblings are credible and their behavior is consistent with their age. Poky has a unique way of seeing the world and wants to explore it. In the plot, some conflict grows from a believable situation that would be relevant to a young child or a child of any age. It has a logical series of happenings and the climax and resolution are clear. The illustrations are part of the movement of the plot. The author indicates time by taking the characters through the events of their day as they go out to play and end their day by going to bed. The setting has universal implications as the character explores the world and its surroundings. The Poky Little Puppy teaches children how to behave by not dallying or ignoring boundaries. The author uses repetition through the repeated misbehavior of the main character. The illustrations are soft and complement the story creating a mood and pace that allows the reader to follow the story closely and not feel threatened. Each page features a picture that shows good details focused on what is going on at that time. Small background images are visible, but they do not take over the action in the story. The vibrant and well used color throughout the illustrations is visible and the drawings clearly illustrate the puppies and their surroundings without going overboard. The author does not override the interesting plot through cultural markers. This story can be read anywhere and by anyone.
Review excerpt(s):
The beginning sentence of a 1942 Little Golden Book has been read millions of times by parents. Publishers Weekly reports the book "The Poky Little Puppy" is the best-selling children's book of all time with sales of more than 15 million. That's more than "Tales of Peter Rabbit," "Green Eggs and Ham," or any one Harry Potter book. [2]
The #1 bestselling children's book of all time. This classic tale about a curious little puppy has been enjoyed by children for over 50 years. Look for all new Poky & Friends videos in stores everywhere. One of the original 12 Little Golden Books, The Poky Little Puppy has sold nearly 15 million copies since 1942, making it one of the most popular children’s books of all time. Now this curious little puppy is ready to win the hearts and minds of a new generation of kids. [3]
Awards:
Emmy Awards for Outstanding Commercials 2006 – Hallmark Cards Required Reading [4]
Publishers Weekly All-Time Bestselling Children's Book [5]
Connections:
Social Studies-Geography- Wide, Wide World!
The puppies went for a walk in the wide, wide world. Using a map or globe of the world, show your student where you live. If you have family members who live in other states or countries, show them those places on the map as well. This exercise is for exposing your student to the concept of the world and that there are different places beyond where he lives. [6]
________________________________________
Language Arts-Vocabulary
Discuss where the puppies went walking.
meadow- a grassy field used for hay or for grazing animals
road- a street used by travelers and vehicles to get from one place to another
grass- a plant with slender leaves
hill- a heap or mound
bridge- a structure crossing over a gap or barrier and providing passage, such as a river or roadway [6]
________________________________________
Math - Counting
Count the puppies.
Count the different types of flowers throughout the story. [6]
________________________________________
Science- Animal Grouping
Using these animal cards, have your student sort the animals in various groups. This is a very basic introduction to animal classification; it will teach your student critical thinking and observation skills that he will need later.
puppy
fuzzy caterpillar
green lizard
black spider
brown hop-toad
grass snake
grasshopper
Ideas for sorting-
legs (animals with four legs/animals with more than four legs)
antennae (animals that have antenna/animals that don’t)
eggs (animals that lay eggs/animals that don’t)
pets (animals your student would/wouldn’t want to keep inside your house as a pet)
Senses
Discuss the five senses with your student (what can he hear, see, taste, touch, and smell?)
What do the puppies smell?
What do the puppies hear?
What do the puppies see?
What do the puppies taste?
Can you find something the puppies touch? [6]
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Cooking
Rice Pudding
Ingredients:
2 c. cooked rice
½ c. sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2c. milk
½ tsp. vanilla
¼ c. raisins
½ tsp. powdered cinnamon
Preparation:
Place rice in bowl, add all ingredients, stir to mix. Pour into greased baking dish or pan. Bake about 25 minutes in a 350 degree oven
Chocolate Custard
Ingredients:
¼ c. milk
3 tb. sugar
1 lg egg yoke
3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped, plus shaved chocolate, for serving
Pinch of salt
2 tb. unsalted butter, softened
½ c. heavy cream
Pinch of ground cinnamon
Preparation:
In a small saucepan, combine the milk and 2 tablespoons of the sugar and heat until steaming and the sugar is dissolved. Put the egg yolk in a small bowl and gradually whisk in the hot milk. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over moderate heat, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
Off the heat, add the chopped chocolate and salt and whisk until smooth. Whisk in the butter. Pour the custard into 2 shallow bowls and refrigerate briefly, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat the heavy cream with the cinnamon and the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar until softly whipped. Dollop the cream on the custards, sprinkle the chocolate shavings on the cream and serve. [6]
Strawberry Shortcake
Ingredients:
3 pints fresh strawberries
½ c. sugar
2 ¼ c. all-purpose flour
4 tsp. baking powder
2 tb. sugar
¼ tsp. salt
⅓ c. shortening
1 egg
⅔ c. milk
2 c. whipped heavy cream
Preparation:
Slice the strawberries and toss them with 1/2 cup of white sugar. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease and flour one 8 inch round cake pan.
In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons white sugar and the salt. With a pastry blender cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and add the beaten egg and milk. Stir until just combined.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool partially in pan on wire rack.
Slice partially cooled cake in half, making two layers. Place half of the strawberries on one layer and top with the other layer. Top with remaining strawberries and cover with the whipped cream. [6]
Bibliographic Information:
Lowrey, Janette Sebring. 1975. THE POKY LITTLE PUPPY. Ill. by Gustaf Tenggren. Wisconsin: Golden Press Western Publishing Company, Inc.
Margaret Toal, “Orange native wrote 'Poky Little Puppy,' the best-selling kids' book of all time.” Beaumont Enterprise, December 21, 2008, http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Orange-native-wrote-Poky-Little-Puppy-the-700129.php#ixzz1PD6cA96i.
Hallmark. “Hallmark Cards Required Reading.” Television advertisement. Institute for the Development of Enhanced Perceptual Awareness, created and directed by David Harner, 2006. Accessed from http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2006/hallmark-cards-required-reading/ . (June 13, 2011).
LibraryThing. Accessed from http://www.librarything.com/bookaward/Publishers+Weekly+All-Time+Bestselling+Children%27s+Book .(June 13, 2011).
Homeschool Share. http://www.homeschoolshare.com/poky_little_puppy.php . (June 13, 2011).
[1] Lowrey, Janette Sebring. 1975. THE POKY LITTLE PUPPY. Ill. by Gustaf Tenggren. Wisconsin: Golden Press Western Publishing Company, Inc.
[2] Margaret Toal, “Orange native wrote 'Poky Little Puppy,' the best-selling kids' book of all time.” Beaumont Enterprise, December 21, 2008, http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Orange-native-wrote-Poky-Little-Puppy-the-700129.php#ixzz1PD6cA96i. (June 13, 2011).
[3] Borders. http://www.borders.com. (June 13, 2011).
[4] Hallmark. “Hallmark Cards Required Reading.” Television advertisement. Institute for the Development of Enhanced Perceptual Awareness, created and directed by David Harner, 2006. Accessed from http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2006/hallmark-cards-required-reading/ . (June 13, 2011).
[5] LibraryThing. Accessed from http://www.librarything.com/bookaward/Publishers+Weekly+All-Time+Bestselling+Children%27s+Book .(June 13, 2011).
[6] Homeschool Share. http://www.homeschoolshare.com/poky_little_puppy.php . (June 13, 2011).
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