Product Description

Un perrito aparece de repente durante una excursión familiar y unos niños juegan con él toda la tarde. Le ponen de nombre "Willy". Al final del día se despiden de él, pero piensan en Willy durante toda la semana. La familia regresa al lugar de la merienda a buscarlo. Sin embargo, no son los únicos, el perrero también busca a Willy!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1839236 in Books
• Published on: 2003-06-01
• Released on: 2003-05-27
• Original language: Spanish
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Amazon.com Review
"It was a great day for a picnic," begins Marc Simont's lovely, touching, happy-ending picture book, The Stray Dog. And indeed, judging from the opening spread's clear skies, sparkling water, zooming boats, and adventure-bound cars it looks to be so. The story begins as a scruffy little dog makes an appearance at a family's picnic. The children name him Willy, and by the end of the day they desperately want to take him home. The family drives away, but all week they can think of nothing but their new furry friend. They return to picnic at the same spot the very next week, much to Willy's good fortune--and that of the newly smitten family.

As in all the best illustrated children's books, Simont lets his pictures tell the story. We don't have to be told how wrenching it is for the kids to leave Willy behind--we see their small outstretched arms out the car window and the puppy watching them go. Simont doesn't have to tell us that the next Saturday the family is completely preoccupied with the possibility of another Willy sighting. We see the family, silent, munching, and just to the side is a plate of meat they've put out, just in case. Young readers will adore this simple tale of puppy love, but adults will be equally charmed. Simont illustrated his first book in 1939, and since then has illustrated nearly 100 titles, including the 1949 Caldecott Honor Book The Happy Day, by Ruth Krauss and Janice May Udry's A Tree Is Nice, winner of the 1957 Caldecott Medal. This book is our favorite so far of the year! (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly
In this slender but engaging volume, Caldecott Medalist Simont (A Tree Is Nice) retells and illustrates a true story told to him by a friend. Picnicking in the country, a family spies a friendly dog. The brother and sister play with him and even name him, but their parents will not let them take Willy back to their city home. "He must belong to somebody," their mother explains, "and they would miss him." Returning to the same spot the following weekend, they once again see Willy, this time being chased by a dog warden who deems him a stray: "He has no collar. He has no leash." In the tale's most endearing scene, the boy removes his belt and the girl her hair ribbon, which they identify to the warden as Willy's collar and leash: "His name is Willy, and he belongs to us." Simont's art and narrative play off each other strategically, together imparting the tale's humor and tenderness. The final scenes are simple gems of understatement and wit. "They took Willy home" accompanies a full-bleed picture of the children energetically and messily bathing the dog; "And after that... they introduced him to the neighborhood, where he met some very interesting dogs" captions a busy scene of a park full of pooches. A charmer. Ages 4-8. (Jan.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-A great tale for any kid who's dreamed of adopting a pet. Widely known and admired for his light and breezy illustrations, Simont continues his magic here with the story of an urban family on a weekend picnic in the country who chance upon a scruffy little stray dog that they call Willy. Returning to the city without him but with a whole lot of pet-longing, they while away the week with Willy on their minds. During their next outing, they spy the pup in the clutches of a dogcatcher and immediately resolve to give him a home by claiming him with a belt for a collar and a hair ribbon for a leash. Replete with lively city and country outdoor scenes and a glorious doggy bubble bath, all rendered in gauzy pastel watercolors, The Stray Dog is a showcase for Simont's considerable artistic talent. This good-humored addition is an amusing and predictable read with a happily-ever-after ending.
Mary Ann Carcich, Mattituck-Laurel Public Library, Mattituck, NY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Love at First Sight
One Saturday a very nice family of four go to the park for a picnic and find a straggly stray pup. They name him Willy and spend the day playing with him. When it's time to pack up and go, the children want to take Willy home with them, but their parents tell them no, Willy probably belongs to someone else and they sadly leave him behind. The next week is excruciatingly long and whole family spends it thinking about Willy. When Saturday comes, they go back to the park on the pretense of another picnic, but are really hoping to find Willy. Just when they think they'll never see him again, he appears, in the dog catcher's net. Happily, the family claims him...Willy's found a new home and they've found a new pet..... Award winner, Marc Simont has written a lovely, gentle, true to life story that will capture your family's heart. His simple and straighforward text is only outdone by his very detailed and expressive artwork. While looking at these illustrations, youngsters will actually feel the joy of finding this little furry friend, sense the sadness of leaving him behind and worry, right along with the family, about his welfare. This is a terrific picture book, perfect for kids aged 3-7, your entire family can share and a wonderful addition to all home libraries.

We just love this book!
I have a young daughter, and this is our most favorite book! It is a sweet, brief, gentle story that reminds me of the picture books I read as a child, and I am so thrilled to see that it just won a Caldecott Honor! The artwork is some of the most beautiful art I have ever seen in a children's book, and the story of two children who adopt a frightened little dog is just what I want to be sharing with my child in these troubled times. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

Pet Love
There is nothing more rewarding than to find a family pet, in particular a stray who is in dire need of a home. Thus, Marc Simont has retold an actual account of a family which has done just that, found a scruffy little mutt. In the simplicity of his retelling and illustrations, Mr. Simont has captured the essence of the love for a pet within a family structure. Beware of this heartwarming tale; you may end up at the pound filling out adoption papers! Marc Simont has been involved with children's literature for over sixty years. His accolades include two Caldecott Medals (one an Honor) and the 1997 Illustrator of the Year by the Professional Association of Illustrators.