When the American Library Association’s 2012 Caldecott Award winner was announced on Monday, I was happy to learn that Chris Raschka’s A Ball for Daisy had taken the top prize. I raved about this wonderful picture book when it came out last year on the Letter Blocks blog, and I’m pleased to report that this title is still a favorite in our house. I often find my children sitting by themselves studying the wordless pages; they’re especially fascinated by the pictures of Daisy jealously guarding her ball and looking dejected when her treasured toy is damaged. If you haven’t yet seen A Ball for Daisy, do take a look. It’s a great choice for older toddlers and preschoolers.
Speaking of dog tales, Little Dog Lost: The True Story of a Brave Dog Named Baltic is another wonderful picture book about a resilient pup. Written and illustrated by Mônica Carnesi, an artist and librarian, this book was inspired by a news story Carnesi heard on NPR about a dog discovered floating on an ice floe in the Baltic Sea. (You can view real footage of the rescue on YouTube.) Simple, straightforward text works nicely with clear, dynamic watercolors to create a dramatic story with a happy ending. We see children playing on the snowy banks of the Vistula River. They’re the first to notice a small brown-and-white speck in the water. (“Something is moving in the water! What is it? Is it a bird? No. A fish? No. It’s a DOG!”) Firemen arrive and attempt to rescue the pup. But the river is too fast and the dog drifts further away into the sea. Some of the illustrations depict a tiny pup, lost and alone in ice-filled waters. Others feature close-ups of an adorable mutt, looking frightened and tired. Finally, two lonely days and nights later, the dog encounters a ship. (“The crew sees something on the ice. Is it a seal? No. It has four legs, ears, and a tail. It’s a dog! Let’s help him!”) After an unsuccessful rescue attempt resulting in the dog falling off the ice floe, a crew member is able to grab him. (“Finally, Dog is warm. Finally, Dog is dry.”) Safe at last, the pup is adopted by the kindhearted crew and named Baltic after the ship. In the concluding spread, we see Baltic happily traveling the seas with his new family in his new home, a research vessel called the Baltica.
Little Dog Lost is a winner in my book. Suspenseful and heartwarming, this is a fantastic read for young children. The illustrations are thrilling and the ending is awww….so sweet!
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Can you suggest other titles for kids who love animal-rescue stories?
