The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy

PreSchool-Grade 1 What a pleasure it is to welcome a new edition of Jane Thayer's charming book, first illustrated by Seymour Fleishman (Morrow, 1958). More than anything in the world, Petey, a puppy, wanted a boy for Christmas. Nothing else his mother suggested would do, and none of the other dogs would give him their boys. Dejected, Petey passes the Home for Boys where a lonely newcomer sits on the steps. Petey has found not one boy, but 50 boys full of love. McCue's puppy is a frisky, impish dog-pound special, closely resembling her Sebastian, the Super Sleuth of Mary Blount Christian's novels (Macmillan). However, where Sebastian is portrayed with scratchboard, Petey and friends are in naturalistic watercolors highlighted with crayon. The "Orphan's Home" of the earlier edition has become a Home for Boys; minor changes in the text are in keeping with evolving life styles; the interracial boys are in cords, blue jeans and sneakers. With updated text and illustrations, an old friend has a new personality, and Petey is virtually guaranteed another almost 40 years of popularity with the picture book crowd.Virginia Opocensky, Lincoln City Libraries, Nebr.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.