If You Give a Wauzer a Book....

Hi!

     Allison had her first day of library school today. She woke up really early - when it was still dark! - and then she left to get on a big, loud bunch of connected cars called a "train" to go to Boston. I was a little nervous when Allison left. I knew she was worried about meeting new humans and getting the teachers' answers right. I want all of my humans to be happy! You know, I waited alllll day and chewed my bone and played toss with my giraffe and took lots of naps until Allison finally came home (I went with Mama Suz to pick her up at the station). And she was okay! Arooooooooooooo!!! In fact, she told me and Mama funny stories about the train and her class. After that? A hamburger supper and a much-needed game of tug-the-towel...  

Tug-the-towel! Ruff! A great afterschool activity!

      Happy about how fun her class was, Allison decided to read me a special story about a tiny mouse who goes to school. Here it is:



Click for a link to download a Mouse coloring page.

If You Take a Mouse to School, written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond, is a cheerful tale about a mouse's adventures in school. Hitching a ride in his friend's lunchbox (his friend is a little human-pup), Mouse explores everything at school - from science experiments to spelling to building a wonderful house of wooden blocks and clay. Allison says this is a great book for human-pups to learn about something called "cause and effect," and many little ones will love the mouse's antics and facial expressions (shown in colorful, detailed pictures). My favorite picture is the one where Mouse is building a green volcano; he's even wearing funny glasses called "goggles" to keep his eyes safe when the volcano goes BOOM with sticky goo. Awoooo! I think human-pups will relate to the small hero of this story, making this a memorable read! I give it two paws up and a tail wag! Best for human-pups grades PreK-3.

And if you like this one, try If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, and If You Give a Moose a Muffin.   

Thinking of cookies...time to hunt down a bedtime biscuit! Cookies are good for staying a smart puppy, you know.

Your Cookie-Loving Student,

Sam I Am

Yearning for Learning: A Pup Thinks About School

Hi!

     All the humans around me keep going on and on about this thing called school. Allison is worried about starting library school, Rachel has been busy trying to figure out her "classes," and Suz is already planning to teach her students about inventions (like the inventions in Andrew Henry's Meadow, but less fancy...things like cars). What's the big deal about school?

     When Allison took me to Slater Park (my first time there!), I stopped her in a bit of shade. Pawing at her jeans, I whimpered my question. What is school exactly?

     "It's okay, little one. We're all kind of nervous about doing something new. But school is a what humans call a place where we go to learn things," Allison murmured. She rubbed a itchy spot behind my left ear, and I sighed. "Of course, everyone learns by having adventures and paying attention to the world around them. School is just a special way to learn about the specifics, the details!"

     I shook myself. Then I sniffed a clump of grass while I thought about this. Then I remembered that Allison and Rachel had mentioned that I'm going to start school as soon as the silly cone is off. As soon as my humans can sign me up, they said. Okay. So I won't be left out after all...but...but...

    I whined. Now I was starting to feel nervous.

    Allison smiled and gently led me over to a big green wooden stage. We sat there licking up a kind of ice she called "watermelon slush." Then she told me that learning is an important part of life for both pups and human-pups. Later, we read a book about a very smart dog and how he puts his smarts to use in making friends and stirring up happy trouble. Ruff!

Anne H. White's A Dog Called Scholar, with pictures by Lilian Obligado, is a comical chapter book about a golden retriever and those whose lives he changes. First named "Little Moo" and then "Cubby," this feisty pup is finally given the name "Scholar" by his family - all because he must have a private tutor to learn to behave! Soon, the already-smarty-pants Scholar is putting his good manners and ideas to use around town. Whether scheming after chocolate cake (I guess this was written before humans decided chocolate was bad for dogs.), causing chaos during a school play, or making friends with the "King Dog," Scholar is a memorable, lovable character. Most of all, human-pups will like Scholar for his generosity. He is always giving someone a present; my favorite part is when Scholar interrupts the end of the school play by throwing props as gifts to the audience! It's great to learn and to share! A little outdated, this book still earns a paw up from me. Awooooo! Best for human-pups grades 3-5. 

Whew. Even just talking about school and all that learning is making me sleepy! Break time! Woof!   

Off to beg Allison for a bedtime story (maybe another about a smart dog...I need to know more to grow up smart and strong),

Sam I Am