Book Summary
In this Little Golden Book, a puppy has a hard time learning to be obedient to his mother. He and his four siblings dig under the fence to go exploring. Each day they return just in time for a wonderful dessert like rice pudding or chocolate pudding, but their displeased mother sends them to bed without the dessert. But the Poky Little Puppy comes home after everyone else is in bed and eats all the dessert. The puppies disobey two more times. On the third time, four little puppies show remorse by filling up the hole they dug under the fence. Their mother is happy to see their repentance and allows them to have strawberry shortcake that evening. The Poky Little Puppy returns to find all of the strawberry shortcake eaten up. Finally,his mother placed a sign by the fence that said, "No desserts ever unless puppies never dig holes under this fence again!" Hopefully, the Poky Little Puppy has learned his lesson.
My Impressions
I love this book. I read it as a child, and I read it to my own children. I like the lesson that there are consequences to disobedience. I enjoyed the soft, round curves that Gustaf Tenggren uses in his illustrations. The puppies look just like puppies are supposed to look. I also love the curiousity and adventuresome spirit of the puppies. Jannette Lowrey has captured the characteristics that are most likely to get children (and adults) into difficulty.
Professional Review
Barnes and Noble online website. (2012). Editorial Review of The poky little puppy.
"The famous little puppy is not bigger and better! The classic tale of the pooch who likes to take his time--along with digging holes and gobbling down desserts--is now reformatted in this livelier larger size. Included in the Big Little Golden Books series and always a first-rate addition to storytimes, The Poky Little Puppy looks even more adorable and will charm the socks off old fans and young readers."
Library Uses
1. A librarian could use this to encourage discovery. Pre-K and Kindergarten will identify with the puppy. Have a little hunt either inside the library or out for a caterpillar, a lizard, a sheep, etc...Students could write a story about the creatures they find.
2. Use the book with an older class to teach alliteration. Poky-Puppy, went-walk-wide-world, etc..Students can find other examples in their own books and post them on a bulletin board that has been prepared.
Blume, J. (1972). Tales of a fourth grade nothing. NY: E. P. Dutton &Co.
Book Summary
Anyone who has younger siblings understands the way Peter Hatcher feels. His younger brother, Fudge (Farley Drexel) gets by with everything, but Peter doesn't because he is "old enough to know better." Even when Fudge causes injury to himself by eating flowers, Peter is blamed and ignored. Peter just wants to know that his parents still love and appreciate him even though he is no longer "cute and cuddly." When Fudge swallows Peter's turtle, the whole family experiences a crisis. Even though Peter was angry, he finds that he still loves and cares for Fudge. In the end, Peter receives a dog as a present because his parents thought he had been so mature during the turtle in Fudge's belly episode. He feels better when his father explains to Fudge that it is Peter's dog. Peter names him "Turtle."
My Impressions
Because I have a younger brother and sister, I know just how Peter felt. Sometimes you just want the "baby" to be spanked or put in time-out for all of the problems they cause. I think it is only natural for an older child to resent the attention a baby gets. Parents have to be careful not to exclude the older sibling and celebrate their achievements.
Professional Review
Amazon.com Review. (2012). Tales of a fourth grade nothing.
"Passed on from baby-sitters to their young charges, from big sisters to little brothers, and from parents to children, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and its cousins (Superfudge, Fudge-a-mania, and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great) have entertained children since they first appeared in the early 1970s. The books follow Peter Hatcher, his little brother Fudgie, baby sister Tootsie, they neighbor Sheila Tubman, various pets, and minor characters through New York City and on treks to suburbs and camps.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is the first of these entertaining yarns. Peter, because he's the oldest, must deal with Fudgie's disgusting cuteness, his constant meddling with Peter's stuff, and other grave offenses, one of which is almost too much to bear. All these incidents are presented with the unfailing ear and big-hearted humor of the masterful Judy Blume. Though some of her books for older kids have aroused controversy, the Hatcher brothers and their adventures remain above the fray, where they belong. (Peter's in fourth grade, so the book is suitable for kids ages 8 and older.)"
Library Uses
1. Use it as a way to introduce Judy Blume books to students.
2. Find a stomach model from a doctor's office. Students can learn the parts of the stomach and discover how someone could swallow a turtle.
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