The Poky Little Puppy

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lowrey, Janette Sebring. 1942. The Poky Little Puppy. Ill. by Gustaf Tenggren. New York: Golden Books. ISBN 0375839207

PLOT SUMMARY

Lowrey tell the tale of a family of naughty puppies who are constantly digging under a fence, much to their mother’s chagrin. One puppy is out exploring the world and misses the punishment that the other puppies receive. Although it seems as if his behavior is being rewarded, his poky behavior catches up with him by then end.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Lowrey’s puppies are fun and engaging characters in this classic fable. The personification of the puppies allows most children to be able to relate to the puppies’ behavior. The order of the story is repetitive and children can predict what will happen next. Lowery’s writing style is fun and will appeal to young readers when she uses phrases such as “roly-poly, pell-mell, tumble-bumble.” Lowery seamlessly weaves story of morality into an entertaining and charming story.

As a popular Golden Book illustrator, Gustaf Tenggren applies his expertise to the illustrations of The Poky Little Puppy. Even though the illustrations are simple, Tenggren is able to show movement which gives the puppies a playful appearance. The pictures use bright colors and match the playful quality of the text of the book.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Amazon.com: “The Poky Little Puppy has sold nearly 15 million copies since 1942, making it one of the most popular children’s books of all time.”

CONNECTIONS

In addition to the overreaching moral themes, Lowery’s story provides the opportunity for young readers to identify items in nature as well as the opportunity to practice simple counting skills.

The Poky Little Puppy would be a good starting point for a talk about the importance of listening to your parents.

Golden Books are renowned for their simple stories with positive themes. Other Golden Books could provide similar discussion topics.