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michaelabraggett's review
4.0
This is a delightful story about a young boy named Billy who really, really wants to have a pet dog. Billy begs his parents for a dog, but when they say 'no', Billy gets up to mischief.
This wonderful book can be used as a springboard to talk about common pets, our relationships with neighbours and longing for something we cannot have. The text is very accessible and is well suited for children in K-2.
The illustrations in this book are lovely. They clearly enhance the text, making it a good choice for teaching children with limited English skills.
This wonderful book can be used as a springboard to talk about common pets, our relationships with neighbours and longing for something we cannot have. The text is very accessible and is well suited for children in K-2.
The illustrations in this book are lovely. They clearly enhance the text, making it a good choice for teaching children with limited English skills.
jessiquie's review
5.0
When Billy Was A Dog is THE picture book for any dog lover out there. It has also been shortlisted for this year's CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood book week award for 2020.
Billy LOVES dogs. Actually, it's probably more accurate to say he is obsessed with them. After pleading with his parents for a puppy of his own, Billy resorts to the big guns and devious a mischievous plan to become a dog for a day. Using childhood logic, Billy figures if he can show his parents he knows ALL about dogs and their habits, then surely they will let him get one?
What follows is a beautiful, somewhat hilarious, rollicking read of one small child turning himself into a dog for a day. Getting a puppy is a very serious matter, and thus Billy puts his whole heart put into the task. Dedicated beyond belief, Billy takes his food on the floor, sleeps at the end of his parent's bed, plays with his neighbour's dog Fluff, sniffs a fence or two, and even goes to the park as a puppy on his hands and knees to play fetch with his Dad.
I loved everything about this book. Although I've never acted as a dog for a full day like Billy to get his one true desire, I can relate to his longing to have a puppy of his own; I think a lot of kids can.
While Billy's crazy escapades are likely to turn a few parents heads, I think this book is brilliant. It's full of childhood shenanigans and family good fun that you can't help but smile, and laugh behind your hand at in secret (don't want the kiddies getting ideas after all).
Kirsty Murray's text is simple, and to the point, relying heavily on dialogue between family members to tell her tale. There are a number of lines to each page (generally four-plus), meaning an adult will probably have to help some younger readers.
Karen Blair's illustrations are perfect. Featuring strong black outline's her watercolour images are bold, and lifelike as they document Billy's adventures as a dog. Blair mixes up the illustrations, choosing to alternate between the various size of illustrations. We go from full double-page illustration spreads to comic-like windows, to smaller centred images and border-sized illustrations as well. There is one particular image of Billy sharing Fluff (his neighbour's dogs)'s bed as the pair fall fast asleep that completely stole my heart, especially when combined with Murray's narrative.
All in all, When Billy Was A Dog is an exceptional picture book; one totally deserving of its shortlisted place for Book of the Year: Early Childhood for the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book Week Awards 2020.
This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf and can be found here: https://wp.me/p3yY1u-2i0
Billy LOVES dogs. Actually, it's probably more accurate to say he is obsessed with them. After pleading with his parents for a puppy of his own, Billy resorts to the big guns and devious a mischievous plan to become a dog for a day. Using childhood logic, Billy figures if he can show his parents he knows ALL about dogs and their habits, then surely they will let him get one?
What follows is a beautiful, somewhat hilarious, rollicking read of one small child turning himself into a dog for a day. Getting a puppy is a very serious matter, and thus Billy puts his whole heart put into the task. Dedicated beyond belief, Billy takes his food on the floor, sleeps at the end of his parent's bed, plays with his neighbour's dog Fluff, sniffs a fence or two, and even goes to the park as a puppy on his hands and knees to play fetch with his Dad.
I loved everything about this book. Although I've never acted as a dog for a full day like Billy to get his one true desire, I can relate to his longing to have a puppy of his own; I think a lot of kids can.
While Billy's crazy escapades are likely to turn a few parents heads, I think this book is brilliant. It's full of childhood shenanigans and family good fun that you can't help but smile, and laugh behind your hand at in secret (don't want the kiddies getting ideas after all).
Kirsty Murray's text is simple, and to the point, relying heavily on dialogue between family members to tell her tale. There are a number of lines to each page (generally four-plus), meaning an adult will probably have to help some younger readers.
Karen Blair's illustrations are perfect. Featuring strong black outline's her watercolour images are bold, and lifelike as they document Billy's adventures as a dog. Blair mixes up the illustrations, choosing to alternate between the various size of illustrations. We go from full double-page illustration spreads to comic-like windows, to smaller centred images and border-sized illustrations as well. There is one particular image of Billy sharing Fluff (his neighbour's dogs)'s bed as the pair fall fast asleep that completely stole my heart, especially when combined with Murray's narrative.
All in all, When Billy Was A Dog is an exceptional picture book; one totally deserving of its shortlisted place for Book of the Year: Early Childhood for the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book Week Awards 2020.
This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf and can be found here: https://wp.me/p3yY1u-2i0
brona's review
4.0
4 and a half stars
I love a good dog story (which is curious seeing as I was so very scared of dogs as a child)!
But I guess it's hard to be scared of puppies and even harder to be scared of a four year old pretending to be a dog. Which is what we have here.
Billy takes his determination to convince his parents that he should have a dog as a pet to the nth degree by becoming a dog - lying at the bottom of the bed, barking, licking, eating his food out of bowl and crawling all the way to the park to play with his tongue hanging out!
With some laugh out loud moments and plenty of awwwwww's, When Billy Was a Dog will become a firm favourite with preschoolers and preschool teachers everywhere!
I love a good dog story (which is curious seeing as I was so very scared of dogs as a child)!
But I guess it's hard to be scared of puppies and even harder to be scared of a four year old pretending to be a dog. Which is what we have here.
Billy takes his determination to convince his parents that he should have a dog as a pet to the nth degree by becoming a dog - lying at the bottom of the bed, barking, licking, eating his food out of bowl and crawling all the way to the park to play with his tongue hanging out!
With some laugh out loud moments and plenty of awwwwww's, When Billy Was a Dog will become a firm favourite with preschoolers and preschool teachers everywhere!
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