We're Baaaaaaack! Ruff!

Hi!

     Boyohboyohboyohboy!! It's been realllly long since we wrote...my first Christmas and my first snow and my first winter vacation trip to Cape Cod and my first visit to Newport took up so much time! I read so many fun Christmas books with Allison and Rachel (including A Dog's Twas the Night Before Christmas) that I just couldn't pick which ones to share with you, my dear readers. Maybe by next year I'll have a list, rrruff! Oh oh oh! And Happy New Year!!!!! 

See? Here I am on my very first real snowy day! What was all that fluffy, wet white stuff? It fell from the sky and then it stuck to my paws and beard when I romped around. Definitely fun to practice being a snow-wolf, tracking icy pawprints and licking up the occasionally tongueful.

     Anyway, Allison just started taking a new class at school about kids' books. Her teacher gave her this big list of illustrators to check out. So I decided that we should do some of those books for our next entries! Woof! (Okayokay, Allison - that silly human - bribed me with biscuits...bacon-flavored...mmm...for me to help her with her schoolwork.)

      Let's arooooooooooooooo do it! After a cheerful day spent watching Allison and Jacob-Baby paint pictures with their fingers and play with noisy trucks, I am ready for action.

      Here's our first one:

   Meet...the Boss Baby.

This comical picturebook written and illustrated by Marla Frazee revolves around a little human-pup with a gigantic attitude. The title page sets a movie-like tone, the baby (dressed in what Allison calls a "business suit") glaring at his watch beneath a script pronouncing him the book's "star." The two-toothed baby arrives by taxi and soon is making demands - "many, many demands" -  of his "worker" parents. As the author-lady shows the funny similarities between the baby and a high-maintenance business human (his "spa" is a baby-sized bathtub), his parents get more and more tired trying to keep up. (Apparently this human-pup doesn't want to slow down and have a snuggle, silly silly!!)

Overall, I like the pictures, especially the baby's expressions and the details that show that the baby is just a baby (he just THINKS he's the boss). Other interesting details: the setting, clothes, and hairstyles depicted are from the 1950s, according to Allison, and the use of background lines give a sense of movement and energy. I agree about the energy - this book feels fast and busy. Just like the boss baby, who constantly wants attention! Arooooooo! Two up and a tail wag for this one, and great for small human-pups and their own tired parents (whom Allison says will appreciate the truth inherent in the book).

I'm falling asleep on Allison's foot now, so I guess we'll write some more later.

Maybe I can boss my humans around a bit...get a few extra cookies?

Maybe it'd be better to say please and look cute...

Sam I Am 

A Thanksgiving Tail

Hi!

     A couple of days ago my humans started getting ready for something called "Thanksgiving." Now, that's a long word for a little pup like me, so I turned to Allison for some answers. Padding into her room, I hopped up and put my paws on her bed. Then I tilted my head in my best "I've-got-a-question-aren't-I-adorable" look. What was this Thanksgiving anyway?

     Allison smiled when she saw me; she's a pretty smart human. She always knows when I want to learn more about the big wide world. Lifting me up to sit on her lap, Allison rubbed those special spots behind my ears and told me all about the humans who had the first Thanksgiving. The way I understand it is that two groups of humans - the pilgrims and the native Americans - made friends and had a humongous party to celebrate. They had lots and lots of food, and everybody remembered how thankful they were to have friends and food and families. Now American humans celebrate Thanksgiving every year to pay attention to how lucky they are - and to EAT!

I have to say, Allison had me at "turkey." This Thanksgiving party? I could dig it...

     So THAT'S why my humans had been running around making new foods I'd never smelled before. That's why Suz and Allison came home from the store with a gigantic turkey. That's why Rachel found me a special holiday bow tie to wear - just so I could be fancy for my first Thanksgiving ever!

Here I am in my Thanksgiving finery. Dressed to impress. Awoooo!

Note my snout-licking excitement as I pose with a stuffed turkey (who was not, I'm sorry to say, as tasty to chomp on as the real thing).

     To celebrate my first Thanksgiving, Allison read me one of my humans' favorite Thanksgiving books: Cranberry Thanksgiving.

 

In this old-fashioned New England tale by Wende and Henry Devlin, a human-pup named Maggie invites her friend Mr. Whiskers to Thanksgiving dinner with her grandmama. But uh-oh, her grandma thinks Mr. Whiskers is a bad man who wants to steal her secret cranberry bread recipe! It turns out, though, scruffy Mr. Whiskers saves the day (when a certain other guest tries to steal the recipe!).

I liked this book for its characters and the expressions in the illustrations. Mr. Whiskers is my favorite. Not only does he have a bushy beard (perhaps like an oh-so-handsome puppy you know?), he knows pirate songs and is not afraid to ask for more food at the dinner table. And he stops the nasty man from running away with Grandmother's recipe! A bit old-fashioned for very young human-pups, I recommend it as a family read for little ones from grades 1-3.  Can't judge a book by its cover, according to Allison; Mr. Whiskers doesn't look like a hero to Grandmother, but that's what he becomes! Woof! Two paws up for Mr. Whiskers and his cranberry friends!

  

     I know I'm just a puppy, but I have A LOT to be thankful for: my wonderful humans, my squeaky ball, my nice long walks, the bacon treats and bones Suz gets me, my friends (Sadie, Finnegan, and my dog park romping pals), and all the adventures I get to have.

 And the turkey. I am most definitely thankful for all the turkey I ate today. Ruff! Yummmm!

     Off to dream of the turkey leftovers to come (and maybe puzzle over those crazy big balloons Allison showed me on TV today...how did Snoopy get so big?). Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! Awoooooooo!

                                                                                               Thankfully yours,

                                                                                               Sam I Am 

Fancy Fall Fun: Sam I Am is Back and Ready to Enjoy Autumn

Hi!

      So I did a very silly thing awhile ago. A week before that thing called Halloween, I ate a tasty-looking rock, and a few days later I got sick. Allison, Rachel, and Suz had to bring me to a funny doctor who took a picture of inside my tummy. You know what? That mean little stone had gotten stuck in my tummy - and I had to stay overnight at the doctor's office so they could take it out. The nurse was nice, and I felt kind of better (except for the sore cut on my belly). But I was SO EXCITED to see my humans when they came to get me!  

      Anyway, that's one of the reasons Allison and I couldn't write. We didn't have time because I had to rest and feel better. Now of course, I'm back to my old ruff-and-tuff self again. Time to hide in the countless piles of crunchy leaves, track the acorn-hunting squirrels, and go on lots of adventures in the chilly fall air! 

Who wouldn't like romping around, paws crushing leaves and tongue out to lap up the autumn breezes?

Here's a few suggestions for fun fall reads:



Cynthia Rylant's Henry and Mudge Under the Yellow Moon:
A great book of stories about a pup named Mudge and his human Henry! Whether standing by his human-pup during scary stories or playing in the leaves, Mudge is a wonderful, comical friend  for Henry. This one's the second in the Henry and Mudge series, and a favorite of Allison's and mine! Two paws up and a tail wag! Human-pups around 1st and 2nd grade will love it as read aloud especially! Ruff!!!

Henry and Mudge look at the moon together. They should practice their howling! Awoooooooo!

Maurice Pledger's Hiding in the Woods:
This one's a touch and feel book about the animals that live in the woods, from mouse to deer and fluttery butterflies. Best for preschool human-pups who love to explore through touch and hunting in pictures for the animals! One paw up!  

Alexandra Day's Follow Carl! :
This is a beautiful wordless picture book about a Rottweiler named Carl who leads a bunch of human-pups on merry game of follow-the-leader. Talk to your human-pup about what happens in all the pictures! Best for ages 3-7, and two paws up!

Off to snooze a bit and maybe work on one of those new bones Suz bought me. Liver-pork-chicken flavor! Yum!

                                                                                Yours in Autumn Adventuring,
                                                                                Sam I Am

Sneezy, Wheezy Sundays with Sam I Am

Hi!

     I tried to eat Allison's umbrella a few minutes ago. It was just hanging there on her doorknob, looking very suspicious to me. So I balanced on my bum and gave it a great big CHOMP.

Allison didn't like that too much.

     She's been doing this thing called "homework," and I think it takes too long! When we decided to take the rest of September off from blogging so Allison could focus on getting used to school, I didn't realize how much time she was going to spend on this "homework." I mean, really. What's the use of writing essays and reading long, hard papers when she could be learning just as much from me? I taught her how to play catch-me-catch-me-you-can't-catch-me. I taught her how to play Real basketball (Allison didn't know that you're supposed to try to grab the ball with your teeth, would you believe that?). I even taught her my special swagger-walk that I use in the dog park to let everyone know I'm the friendliest wauzer in town. And what does she do instead?

Something called "archetypal criticism" and another thing called "management theory." Yuck.

      Is it any wonder I have to attack rain gear to snap her out of it? Or sneak under her bed for a tissue feast? Or break into the bathroom for a solo game of tug-the-towel? WOOF! A dog's got to do what a dog's got to do.

     I'll take squeaky toys over literary theory any day. Ruff!

     I guess part of the reason why Allison isn't so fun lately is that she worked so hard on homework and school stuff that she got sick. She has something called "a cold." When I tilted my head a little and woofed softly to ask if there was such thing as catching "a hot," she laughed but then the laugh turned into a cough. My poor human's snout is drippy all day too. I did a better job being patient yesterday when Allison stayed in bed. If there's one thing I've learned it's how to snuggle!

I even kept Allison's spot cozy for her while she got up for some water.

I'm a good guy like that.

 

      Anyway, this morning Mama Suz gave my sniffly human a spoonful of this nasty-smelling stuff - medicine I think. So Allison felt a little better today. She took a break from homework when I tried to tackle her umbrella. And we read a great story about a teddy bear with cold!

Teddy Bears Cure a Cold by Susanna Gretz, illustrated by Alison Sage, is about a teddy bear named William and all the things his teddy bear friends do to help him get better when he catches a cold. Charles makes a chart to keep track of William's fever because he feels really hot, Andrew makes him special tea, and Louise and Sara help make him comfy in bed. Poor William is very unhappy being sick...but he finds out that he likes all the attention from his friends! Only when he finds out about a special surprise does he admit that he feels better! What an ending! Awoo!

I give this book two paws up and a tail wag. Sniffling William's grumpy faces remind me of the faces Allison makes when she's sick and mad about being sick. I like looking at all the pictures, with details like the temperature chart, puzzle pieces all over William's blanket, and get well cards made by the bears. I especially like the bears' friend the dalamatian dog! The bears' personalities and expressions, the familiar situation, and the gentle humor will make human-pups grin and ask for the book again and again (especially when they're sick or don't want to go to school!). Best for human-pups PreK-3.

Allison says there are other books about the same teddy bears and their dog; I hope we can find them to read more about William, that silly bear!

     Right now, I think I'd better go work on that new bone I started chewing this morning. Allison's starting to sneeze again and I don't want her ACHOOOOOS to blow our blog away! She should rest anyway because she has to try to go to school - wish I could sneak in with her! 

Don't you think I'm smart enough for what Allison calls "higher education"? Awooooooooooooooooo! 

Yours in Get-Well Snuggles,

Sam I Am

"Dragon Boat," Said Sam

Hi!

     Boy oh boy oh boy! What a howling-happy day! This morning Allison and Rachel took me to something called the Chinese Dragon Boat Races and Taiwan Festival. By the big river that goes through Pawtucket, a giant puffed-up dragon arch showed where to go. Oh! The people! The smells! The sights! THE NEW FRIENDS TO MAKE! Arooooo! I was so excited my tail didn't stop wagging for a second!

     First we went and sat by the water to watch the dragonboat races. Allison - who had explained earlier that dragons are gigantic winged lizards that can breathe fire - pointed the boats out to me. Each boat had the head and tail of a fierce-looking, red-nosed dragon! Luckily, these dragons weren't real, so I wasn't afraid of becoming a toasted wauzer pup. They were actually kind of funny, packed with bunches of humans in thick jackets. The humans had to move the dragons across the water with these flat stick-things. Silly, huh?

See? This guy has a beard like my beard (but mine is black and grey) - and spiky horns!

Here we are posing with another dragon in a big tent. This dragon was made of wood. Smelled like maple tree to me...not so scary! Ruff!

     After making friends with some human-pups (their daddy was on one of the dragonboats), I padded after my humans to explore more of the festival. And guess what? I'm not the only dog interested in dragons...

This is Quahog, a very fun new friend with a very different name! What's a "quahog" anyway?

      Anyway, after that my humans and I listened to a group of older human-pups beat on these huge drums and then to lots of girl-humans play music. The girl-humans came to Pawtucket all the way from a place called Taiwan, across the sea. They made music with strange instruments, but it was pretty. I also had fun making friends with the dragonboat rowers sitting next to us; those guys didn't mind a bit when I hopped onto their laps (even if they wouldn't give me their chicken salad!). Overall, I really liked the festival, and when we got home I happily curled up for a nap. Rrruff! I knew I'd dream of dragons!

     A little later, Allison read me two books with dragons in them. The first is about a bunny who wants a dragon shirt, and the second is about a princess who outsmarts a not-so-nice dragon:

In Rosemary Wells' Max's Dragon Shirt, a simple shopping trip quickly turns into an adventure. Ruby takes her little brother Max to the store to buy him new overalls, but quickly gets distracted by a red dress. Max, a bunny-pup who wants a dragon shirt instead of new overalls, follows his sister around the store without saying much. Except for two words, over and over...

"Dragon shirt," said Max.

     Soon Max finds himself alone in a boring dressing room - and wanders off in search of a dragon shirt. What comes next in this comical story will make many human-pups giggle aloud. Let's just say that Ruby learns not to leave Max alone anymore, and that Max finally gets what he wants! Great silly fun, this book is a must-read for little human-pups who stubbornly insist on their own sense of style (as for me, my fur's enough...no shirts or clothes-shopping for this pup!). Allison says that this was one of her favorites growing up, especially the funny colors and sizes of the dresses Ruby tries on. And the ending, which even involves ice cream! Fans of Rosemary Wells will enjoy this classic Max and Ruby tale of sibling interaction. Two paws up and a tail wag for this one! Best for human-pups grades PreK-2. 

The Paper Bag Princess, written by Robert Munsch and illustrated by Michael Martchenko, is an unsual picture book fairy tale. As Allison puts it: Princess likes prince. Dragon eats castle and steals prince. Princess runs off to rescue prince - with only a paper bag for a dress. You see, this dragon is not a very nice one. He has terrible manners, bounding up and wolfing down an entire castle like that! Cats are more polite! Woof! Fortunately, this dragon meets his match in the fiesty (if a little dirty) Princess Elizabeth. Would-be princesses and other human-pups who enjoy dragon stories where the dragons do not get killed will like this book! With pictures that bring out the laughable in both the dragon's and Elizabeth's personalities, this story is modern fairy tale with a happy ending won by wits alone. It just goes to show that being mean and hurting people ("violence" Allison calls it) isn't always the answer. And princes who don't appreciate being rescued don't deserve a second thought! You go, girl! Aroooooo! Two paws up, and best for human-pups grades PreK-3.   

Now I'm out the door for one last trot around the yard before snuggling up with my stuffed little Clifford and my blanket. Fall is coming; it's getting chilly at night lately! Dragons must feel lucky. Think how nice and toasty they stay in the winter! Wonder if I could make friends with one and persuade it to cuddle? Hmmmm....

Yours in Dragon Dreams,

Sam I Am