A Sick Day for Sadie, Or Friends are the Best Medicine

Hi!

     You know what? My friend Sadie has to wear one of these silly cone Elizabethan collar things for awhile too. Allison and I were having our usual after-kibble walk when we stopped by Sadie's yard to say hi - and there she was, looking sad and sick! I whimpered softly until she got up and padded over. I guess she had to have an operation on her left hind leg because she had a big long line of stitches. Pawing at the fence, I woofed a question about how she was feeling; instead of jumping around like she usually does, Sadie hung her head so low it touched her paws. My poor friend! Awoooooo!

     Allison crouched down and rubbed my back, murmuring get-well wishes to Sadie. Then she reminded me of a book we had read one rainy afternoon when I was still feeling yucky. Maybe I could tell Sadie about it and that would cheer her up? I twitched my ears in thought, and then decided Allison had a good idea. This book in particular shows how much friends can help when you don't feel well. I shared this story with Sadie, so maybe you'd like to share it with your friends (especially next time they get "sick as a dog"...what a silly phrase, ruff!).

Written by Philip Stead and illustrated by his wife Erin, A Sick Day for Amos McGee is a very special picture book - for a number of reasons. This story, with its Caldecott-winning pictures and loveable main character, is wonderful! A very nice human by the name of Amos McGee works hard at the zoo doing his job - and works even harder making sure he is there for all his animal friends. Whether the tortoise needs a playmate to race with (and let him win) or the rhino needs a handkerchief (he "always had a runny nose"), Amos is there to help. So when this terrific human gets sick, his animal friends hop a bus to be there for Amos! 

A simple story of understanding and friendship becomes unforgettable for human-pups who will love the pictures as much as Amos! My favorite part of the pictures' details is the penguin's funny web-foot-shaped socks! Allison loves that the rhino wears a red scarf - and also that a tiny mouse and bird appear in many of the pictures! I give this book two paws up and a tail wag! Great for human-pups K-2 or any pup who needs cheering up during a sick day (especially if there is a silly cone involved!). Remember: it's always nice to cheer someone up! Wooof!

     Of course, I also told Sadie that she should try to stay positive. After all, I've been walking around with this foolish collar for over a week, but I'm still having adventures! Like yesterday...Allison took me for my first walk in the woods behind the library. Oh the SMELLS! The bushes and the mud and the chipmunk tracks to sniff! It was on that shady walk that I saw my first FROG ever! I saw what looked like a bump on a rock in the middle of a gucky pond, and all of a sudden it jumped and went *plonk* *plonk* *plonk* in and out of the water. Well, arooooooo! I must have jumped a little myself.

See? Even cone-collared pups can sniff out swamp-creatures! Rrrrruff!

     I'm going to go see Sadie again tomorrow. Then I can tell her about my lazy day in Colt State Park today with my family. I want to ask her if she likes getting wet in the salty water - I don't like it much but I've seen some dogs dive right in. Also if she's sniffed out that white cat that's been prancing around the neighborhood. Maybe I could bring her a handkerchief too...I just need to borrow one from Mama Suz's laundry basket when my humans aren't looking. Aroooo!

                                                                        Yours in Sniffs and Silliness on Sick Days,

                                                                                         Sam I Am  

Be a Peanut Butter Friend: Stick Together with Those You Love!

Hi!

      Still in my funny cone hat, I've been trying to do what Allison told me and relax. She says if I run around too much I might "bust" my stitches and it would hurt. But it's so hard to stay still with so much energy! Arooooo!

     See, this is my Aww-can't-we-play-chase? face.

     Allison lets me play fetch, but doesn't throw Clifford very far. That way I don't have to work as hard. She makes up for no chase games with extra books though! I think I would've started to go crazy if my humans had not been so nice to me! (Things get ruff without friends!) That's what friends are for; they take care of you and cheer you up when you're sad. Friends stick together like peanut butter to the roof of my mouth! Just like the friends in the book I read today...

Mini Grey's picture book Three By the Sea is an unusual story about three unlikely friends. Cat, Dog, and Mouse live happily together in a little house on the beach - until a travelling sales-fox comes to visit and stirs up trouble. (The fur on my back bristled when Allison read aloud the part when the Fox swaggers in with his pin-striped suit and trouble-making questions.) Suddenly Dog feels like Cat is getting lazy, Cat feels like Mouse's cooking is boring, and Mouse feels like Dog is a terrible gardener! The three friends argue, and a tearful Mouse leaves home - only to be swept up by a big wave. Human-pups will like this story's exciting climax as Dog, Cat, and Mouse all pull together to save Mouse and their friendship. As for the ending? It shows the power of friendship renewed, the importance of talking to your friends, and why sometimes you have to compromise when you love someone. Compromise means everyone works together toward the best solution for everyone - even if one pup needs to give a little bit up! I give this book one paw up, especially liking the illustrations that at times (so Allison says) seem like a "scrapbook style." Best for human-pups in grades K-3. Arooooo!  

Now I'm sleepy. All this rain and reading sure makes a dog want a snuggly snooze! Until next time, then!

Your friend (still stuck in a cone),

Sam I Am

Surprise Doctor's Visits and Elizabethan Collars

Hi!

     You know, when Allison and Rachel took me to the doctor's on Tuesday, I wasn't expecting what happened next. In the car on the way, Allison told me that I was going to have an operation, but not to worry. She said that I would play with the pretty vet techs, fall asleep for awhile, and then wake up when it was time to go home.

     "This is part of growing up, Sam," Allison whispered into my ear, "Just like when I had to have my four wisdom teeth pulled out. You be a brave boy, okay?"

      Teeth pulled out? Ouch! I put my ears back at this, but quickly forgot to be afraid once I padded into the doctor's office. So many other dogs and people to say hi to!

      Next thing I know, I'm waking up still at the doctor's the next morning, and my bum feels a little ouchy. What was that? Strangest of all, when my humans came to take me home they put this stupid cone-shaped collar around my neck! I didn't like that one bit, and I still felt a little woozy, so I lay down the best I could and pouted.

Well how would you feel?

     I made sourpuss faces at Allison - and acted hangdog - until she curled up beside me with a new book. Pawing at my foolish collar, I looked up at her with my saddest eyes. 

     "Okay, my brave boy," Allison said. "I know you don't like it, but that collar you're wearing is called an 'Elizabethan collar.' It's named after a human queen from a long time ago who liked to wear collars like that."

     Arooo? I cocked my head, collar and all. A queen who likes weird cone collars? Humans don't usually wear collars, do they? 

     "Most humans don't wear them anymore," she continued, "but Elizabeth I was an interesting person."

     "Anyway, here's a book that will cheer you up! It's about a puppy who lives with another Queen Elizabeth, Elizabeth II. She's queen in England now, and she's related to the first Elizabeth. Come on! Listen!"

     Even though the book was over a hundred pages long, Allison read it aloud to me and Lizzie right then and there. It's called Titus Rules by Dick King-Smith:

Click me to read an interview with the British author!

Written by the author of Babe (which Allison and I have just started reading) and illustrated by John Eastwood, Titus Rules is a wonderful book for lovers of dogs, of British things, and of great stories of friendship and courage. Titus is the last pup of Queen Elizabeth II's corgi Prissy, and this tale tells all about Titus' adventures and how he becomes the queen's favorite pooch. This royal pup grows up to be a hero! By being brave and listening to both his mama and his own smarts, Titus saves the castle from a fire, averts a flood, and even stops a silly human from stealing the queen's sparkly jewelery! John Eastwood's simple pen and ink drawings throughout the book will give human-pups a better idea of the personalities of Titus and other members of the royal family. Also, grown-up humans will laugh at what Allison calls the "gentle satire" on the British royals. Best for human-pups ages 7-11, I give this book two paws up and a tail wag (all the more impressive when I'm doing so while wearing this heavy royal Elizabethan collar).

* A note from Allison: Although Sam and I adore this book (I spent 5 months in England myself and so love the Britishness of it!), some children may not care for or understand the British references and context. Stay tuned for a review of Babe, which American children may appreicate a degree more (especially since it has been made into a popular film).

And now? I'm off for a snooze. Growing up and acting royal take a lot out of a puppy! Ruff!

Yours in Silly Collars and Brave Deeds,

Sam I Am

 

Sandy Runs and Bubbly Baths: A Pup Goes Beach-Wild and Then Gets Groomed

Hi!

     Aroooooo! What busy couple of days! Tomorrow is my half-birthday (Allison says my turning six months old is a big deal), and my humans and I have been celebrating early. On Thursday, I had my very first beach day. We travelled what seemed like a lonnnnng way on a rumbly boat called a "ferry." There were lots of human-pups aboard, plenty of fun salty smells, and enough wind to blow my hair into my eyes and fluff my bum up. I was a little unsure at first - Allison had to carry me up the boat's steps - but I soon began to like the ferry's growly rockings and explored a bit. 

  A windblown little me peeks over a pile of ferry rope. Ruff!

      A few very loud HOOONNNNKS later, my humans and I stepped onto Block Island. It's a good place for pups and human-pups to visit! Unlike Rhode Island, which is something called a state and isn't a real island, Block Island is a place completely surrounded by The Ocean. So you can imagine my excitement at all the new smells and sights! Our first stop was a farm with strange animals walking around. I'm always ready to make new friends, so I padded over to a family of puffy-looking creatures with long necks. I though they were llamas, but Allison told me they were "alpacas" - like llamas only fluffier.

They mostly just looked at me. Silly alpacas. I guess their funny haircuts make them shy.

     I had the most fun giving the ducks a chase and licking hellos to the tiniest human-pups visiting the farm. Then a rude, fast-moving emu made me jump back in surprise, and I was ready to move on to explore different places on the island. Next stop: a picnic lunch in front of the Island Free Library. Adventurers have to eat  A LOT to explore. Woof!

     After a long, hot walk, we finally got to the beach! Sand and rocks and damp scraps of plants called "seaweed." Digging and climbing and waking up humans that were foolishly sleeping instead of playing. Best of all, Allison and Rachel let me off my leash so I could run around like a merry wolf dog! The two of them climbed some tall rocks to get to a mud pit; I led the way, bounding up and loving how fast my four legs could take me.

We all got really muddy from our climb.

Sandy and muddy and salty? Who cares? We had so much fun!!

Loving the sand.

Run run run! See that guy on the blanket? I was happy to wake him up.

     My first beach day was a wonderful time, and I didn't want leave! Only when Allison reminded me that we had to go have supper did I happily trot away from the sand. And guess what I had for supper? A taste of "clam cakes" and "oyster crackers"! Yummmmm!

     Here's a book about another pup who has fun on the beach and gets dirty doing it (remember Harry the dirty dog?):

Harry the dirty dog returns in this beach book. Unhappy about the heat, Harry pads off down the beach to look for some shade. Unfortunately, when Harry gets soaked by an ocean wave full of seaweed, he walks back down the beach looking like a sea monster! Cool but wet, Harry causes everyone on the beach to panic. Human-pups will giggle at the humans' silly fears; the illustrations show beach-goers running away from a happy green scraggly Harry! Knowing how fun it is to get muddy at the beach, I give this book two paws up. Human-pups will also like the ending - Harry finally gets a cool spot under his family's beach umbrella! It just goes to show that you need to pay attention to others' needs (And keep on the lookout for sea monsters! Ruff!). Best for human-pups PreK-3. Read it on your next seaside adventure! 

     Friday brought a whole new kind of adventure. Allison and Rachel brought me to get my first haircut! Wouldn't you know it, a haircut is when two very nice ladies cut your fur short after giving you a sweet-smelling bath...ugh! The humans at Canine Corner were nice; they played with me in between cutting my hair, but I was there for five hours. I was a little embarrassed when I got home (though my humans assured me I look very handsome), so Allison decided to read me a comical book about a king who takes one of the longest baths ever!

    Personally I don't like baths that much, but the king in Audrey and Don Wood's King Bidgood's in the Bathtub loves them! He loves them so much he refuses to get out of the bathtub - even to eat! How strange! Aroo!

My favorite part. I wouldn't mind baths if I had all that food in the tub!

Anyway, the rest of the humans in King Bidgood's kingdom try their hardest to get him out of the tub. But instead, each of them ends up in the tub with him! Two paws up for this tale. A simple story, the illustrations are some of the best Allison and I have seen (no wonder it was a Caldecott Honor book). I won't give away the ending, but let's just say that a little human-pup is the only one who finally gets everyone out of the bath (with an obvious solution). This one is best for bath-lovers and human-pups K-3.

     As for yesterday and today, my friend Lizzie is over. She'll be staying with my humans and me while her family goes to somewhere called "Oregon." She doesn't seem to want to play as much as I want to, but it's okay. I've got a whole bag of library books to read with Allison! Now I'm off for a nap before lunch. Arf!

                                                                        Yours in beach days and silly baths,

                                                                          Sam I Am

A Little Night Music: In Praise of Chester Cricket

Hi!

     Allison and I couldn't write yesterday - we were too busy feeling wet. All because of some very silly weather! Out we went for our nightly walk, and when we were just past Peanut and Daisy's house, the raindrops started. And the drops kept going. And got bigger. And wetter. Until finally I found myself trotting beside Allison (my poor paws soaked by unavoidable puddles) as she guided us toward home through the pouring rain.

     Now, I didn't mind the thunder booms or the lightning flashes, but I definitely didn't like getting so wet! When I tried (several times) to dive into bushes to dry off (Home seemed so far for a little damp puppy like me!), Allison grinned and reminded me that we were in this adventure together. She was having fun, laughing as raindrops dripped from her hair and hopping through puddles like a gleeful duck. I got into the spirit and galloped faster - toward the warm towels and snuggles that waited for us at home. By the time we reached the porch, both me and my beloved human were dripping and trailing muddy pawprints.

     Home at last, I decided cuddling, doing my shake-the-water-off dance, and rubbing my wet snout on the carpet was more important than blogging. Hey, even a reading-eager pup like me needs a break!

    Today was better, thank dogness. Sure my humans and I got locked out of the house. But that meant we got to go see Suz at work. Also, in honor of my upcoming six month birthday, Allison and Rachel bought me a big brother for my squeaky Clifford doggy. 

See? Big Clifford and I get to know each other. He makes a funny urnk-urnk noise sometimes. Fun!!

     Except for scary vacuum roars, I like listening to different sounds. Thunder. Other pups barking. The fridge opening. The sweet sound of a Milkbone as it hits the kitchen floor. I especially like listening to my humans' voices - even when they sing along to the songs in the car! When I first came to live with Allison and her family, music was one of the only things that would make me feel better when I got too excited or upset. So this next book I'm recommending means a lot to me. 

 The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden, illustrated by Garth Williams, is a suspenseful yet hopeful tale of a cricket's adventures in the big city of New York. After accidentally stowing away in a picnic basket, Chester the cricket gets stranded in a subway station beneath Times Square. Quickly befriended by a mouse, a cat, and a boy named Mario Bellini, Chester soon realizes that his chirping is music to others' ears. When Chester decides he wants to help Mario's family save their newsstand, it is the cricket's music that draws lots of humans to the Bellinis' storefront. Chester becomes a famous musical performer! Woof!

With dark, detailed line illustrations that bring life to already loveable characters, this book is a wonderful read! At times funny and other times sad, human-pups will not want to stop reading. What will happen to Chester and the Bellinis? they'll wonder. This story also shows the power of friendship and the importance of using your talents to help others. (After all, I use my top-notch chasing talents to keep the pests away from my humans' garden - everyone can help each other out!) Two paws and a happy tail wag for this one, best for human-pups ages 9-12.   

Maybe someday I'll get to go to Times Square in New York. I bet they have lots of terrific sounds - not to mention smells and sights and people to lick! Anyway, now I'm off to snuggle Big Clifford some more and listen to the night sounds coming from outside. A special good-night to all the crickets out there!

Yours in music and dreams,

Sam I Am