Available:*
Library | Material Type | Shelf Number | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Searching... Hillview Branch | Juvenile Book | E PERK | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
Newbery Medalist and bestselling author Lynne Rae Perkins introduces a boy (Frank) and a dog (Lucky) in this celebratory, wry, and happily unconventional introduction to the subjects children encounter in school. This beautifully illustrated, humorous, and insightful picture book offers a new twist on the classic boy-and-his-dog story!
On a rainy day, Frank's parents take him to the shelter to get a new dog. That's how Frank finds Lucky, and from that moment on, they're inseparable. As Frank and Lucky venture out into the world around them, they discover they both have a lot to learn. Exploring their neighborhood teaches them about biology: Lucky learns all about squirrels, deer, and--unfortunately for Frank--skunks. Sharing a bed teaches them about fractions--what happens when one dog takes up three-quarters of the bed, or even the whole thing They even learn different languages: Frank makes a friend who speaks Spanish and Lucky tries to learn Duck! Who knew you could learn so much without ever setting foot inside a classroom
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4-Lessons learned and shared between a boy and his dog cover many subjects, from science (mud, burdocks, ticks, and skunks) to math (the number of biscuits a dog deserves and the percentage of a boy's bed it requires) in this picture book that's as joyful as a meander through the woods with a curious canine. A truth extracted from the art lesson: "Every picture [and book] is better with a dog in it." © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Newbery Medalist Perkins (Criss Cross) offers a simultaneously lighthearted and insightful look at education, in this story starring a boy and his newly rescued dog: "Both of them were just pups. They had a lot to learn." Through Frank and Lucky's relationship with each other and the natural world, Perkins creates a free-form curriculum that playfully introduces various disciplines. Lucky's encounter with a skunk leads to an exploration of chemistry and experiments (such as which products will turn "smell molecules" into "not-so-smelly molecules"), while six side-by-side images of Lucky and Frank attempting to share a bed accompany the question, "How much of the bed is Lucky's, and how much is Frank's?" ("This is fractions and percentages," writes Perkins. "The answer changes throughout the night.") As Perkins comments on art, history, geography, and more, she brings a warm, conversational tone to the narrative, while her mixed-media pictures play up the story's humor through the use of comics elements, including panel sequences and speech balloons. From interdisciplinary connections to unanswerable questions, Perkins demonstrates the value and rewards of investigating one's world, whether human or dog. Ages 4-8. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Frank's bad day is turned around when his parents take him to the animal shelter, and he picks out Lucky. Perkins' playful, multidisciplinary picture book follows the boy and his dog as they get to know each other and learn about the world. Together, the winsome pals learn about a variety of topics by exploring their surroundings. For example, when Lucky gets sprayed by a skunk, Frank learns about experimentation and chemistry. Elsewhere, Lucky and Frank learn about history (when they spot a statue of Balto), geography (when Lucky runs off in the fields near Frank's house), and foreign languages (when they meet a couple of Spanish-speaking kids in their neighborhood), among many others. The scattered pace of discovery, while a bit jolting as a narrative device, is a great replication of the frenetic pace of doggie enthusiasm and unstructured exploration. Perkins' watercolor-and-ink illustrations incorporate labels, diagrams, and maps to emphasize the pair's lessons. The wide variety of subjects is engrossing, but it's the bond between Frank and Lucky that steals the show.--Lock, Anita Copyright 2016 Booklist