I Want a Dog

PreS-Gr 1–A little girl really wants a dog so she journeys to Happydale Animal Shelter in an attempt to find her ideal pet. The man at the shelter shows her an abundance of unusual animal choices and attempts to persuade her to choose the pets he selects instead. However, the little girl remains adamant that she wants a dog. This book is filled with comical exchanges between the man and child. Repetition of the phrase “I want a dog” adds to the humorous quality of the narrative. Readers will be anxious to see what pet emerges next. Many of the pages feature the simple but attention-grabbing large doorway and a salesman at one end of the scene. On the opposite end of the scene the little girl is depicted with a new pet option. The rest of the scene is relatively spacious, focusing readers’ attention on important changes within the scene. Drawings feature a lively cartoon art style with washes of color throughout. The imagery adds to the narrative’s playful tone.