9781534418776 |
1534418776 |
Available:*
Library | Material Type | Call Number | Shelf Location | Status | Item Holds |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... East Library | Children's Book | SIMA | Children's-J-Easy | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
Searching... East Library | Children's Book | SIMA | Children's-J-Easy | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
Searching... Fountain Library | Children's Book | SIMA | Children's-J-Easy | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
Searching... Penrose Library | Children's Book | SIMA | Children's-J-Easy | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
Searching... Ute Pass Library | Children's Book | SIMA | Children's-J-Easy | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
From the creator of Not Quite Narwhal comes a classic tale of a boy and his dog--except in this unique story, one of them is a balloon!
When Spencer gets a new pet, he's excited to do all the things that pets do--taking walks in the park, going to the vet, and attending parties together.
There's just one hitch: Spencer's new pet is a balloon.
And that means No. Sharp. Objects.
No drooling dogs at the park. No prickly porcupines at the vet. And absolutely no pinning tails on any donkeys!
Spencer's New Pet is a story of pure fun about a boy, his dog, and a friendship that endures life's sharpest...and most unexpected twists.
Author Notes
Jessie Sima is an author/illustrator living and working in New York City. They grew up in a small town in southern New Jersey, unaware that they were a storyteller. Once they figured it out, they told their family and friends, who took it quite well. They are the author of Not Quite Narwhal , Harriet Gets Carried Away , Snow Pony and the Seven Miniature Ponies , Spencer's New Pet , Jules vs. the Ocean , Hardly Haunted , Weather Together , Cookie Time , and Love, Z . You can visit them at JessieSima.com.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--In this mostly wordless title with a surprise ending, Spencer goes on many adventures with his pet balloon dog. This title is set up like an old movie and opens with the old fashioned film leader countdown of 3, 2, 1 in large circles. Keeping with the silent movie theme, the story line begins with Part I. Readers meet Spencer who leaves the circus tent with a balloon dog on a string leash. In this section and Part II: The Park, his dog escapes being popped by a variety of sharp objects including a hedgehog, a kite, and an eagle's sharp claws. Illustrations are crisp and clear and do an excellent job of conveying the story line without words. For example, when Spencer accidentally lets go of the balloon dog, it floats up in the sky and readers feels engaged as he tries to retrieve it. The art clearly shows the flight path of the balloon dog and its many near disasters including encounters with bees, a unicorn's horn on a carousel, a pineapple, a cactus, and a broken tree branch. Fate changes in Part III: The Party. After surviving a close call during the piñata game and with the candles on the birthday cake, a girl playing pin the tail on the donkey accidentally changes everything. This story has a happy ending thanks to a balloon-sculpting clown at the party. VERDICT This clever and imaginative title lends itself to discussion. Highly recommended for public and school libraries.--Robin Sofge, Prince William Public Library System, VA
Publisher's Weekly Review
With many nods to silent film-including a black-and-white palette, elegant title cards dividing the story into three parts, highly dramatic close-ups, and iris shots-Sima (Love, Z) tells the nearly wordless story of a bespectacled boy and the dog he loves very much. Only the dog is no ordinary pooch: it's a seemingly magical, bright red balloon critter (one of few uses of color in the book) ostensibly created by a clown who doubles as a balloon animal artist. Like a real dog, the balloon cuddles, does tricks, romps (or at least floats) through the park, and stops at fire hydrants. But the dog also has an uncanny sense for getting too close to anything that could spell doom for a balloon, whether it's a hedgehog's spines, an eagle's talons, or a piñata stick. Finally, a classic party game hastens the inevitable, and that's when Sima offers a spectacular visual surprise. The event may initially alarm-there's a whiff of Twilight Zone eeriness in the big revelation-but Sima swiftly assures readers that all is well. As long as there's a powerful balloon artist nearby, that is. Ages 4-8. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
This homage to black-and-white silent films opens on a boy walking his new dog, who happens to be a bright red balloon animal. As they visit the vet, the park, and a birthday party together, the boy finds that there are many dangers in the world for someone made of balloons. A prickly porcupine, splintered tree branches, birthday candles these are just a few of the threats averted by the boy as he hurries after his dog. It's not until he catches up and snatches up the pup that he lets his guard down and POP! a brilliantly devised page turn reveals a truly jaw-dropping twist. Sima (Not Quite Narwhal, 2016), whose adorable illustrations never fail to charm, has crafted an entirely immersive reading experience. You can almost hear the purr of old film reels as the opening endpapers launch a countdown. Stylized title cards separate the robust page count into three acts, and despite using no words and precious little color, the emotion and drama burn bright. While the clever conceit could go over the heads of younger readers, they will nonetheless be delighted by this heartwarming and suspenseful story of a boy and his dog, the ending of which will leave them eager for a second reading.--Ronny Khuri Copyright 2019 Booklist