My mother
mailed me a box full of books from my childhood for my daughter and I too read
together. This was always one of my
favorites as a child and my daughter has enjoyed it as well.
Illustrator: Margaret Bloy Graham
Publisher: Harper & Brothers (1955)
Prices: Library Binding - $16.10, Paperback - $6.99, eBook - $6.99
Reading level: 4 to 8 years old
Interest level: Lower and Middle Grades
Physical Characteristics: 7.8 x 11 inches, 32 pagesISBN: 006443009X
Genres: Children’s Fiction
Subjects:
Dogs, Fiction
Pets
Bathtime
Annotation:
A little dog who hates baths believes his life would be better if he could stay dirty, but dirty isn’t all that it is cracked up to be.
Summary:
Harry is a white dog with black spots who lives with a loving family. One day he hides his bath brush and runs away, to avoid having a bath. He does not like baths. Harry plays in construction sites, dirt piles and pools of mud. He romps through town and suddenly he looks more like a black dog with white spots. Harry gets bored and returns home, but his family doesn’t recognize him until they give the black dog a bath. After that day, Harry wouldn’t avoid his baths.
Evaluation:
For the fifteeth anniversary of this book, they reissued a recolored version. But, as I have the original that is the edition I am discussing here. I am glad that is the case, because I much prefer the original. The illustrations are black and white with sparse use of greens and mustardy yellows. The pictures are simple, yet completely tell the story. As for the text, it is a very powerful story tied up in a children’s book package. As an adult I can see some very deep themes about self and belonging. As a child it makes my daughter want to take a bath. Both good messages.
Similar Titles or Authors:
Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey
The Storm Book by Charlotte Zolotow (illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham)
Squeaky Clean by Simon Puttock
Websites:
http://www.harpercollins.com/web-sampler/9780064430098
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/29/books/margaret-bloy-graham-harry-the-dirty-dog-illustrator-dies-at-94.html?_r=0
Awards & Recognition:
School Library Journal, Top 100 Picture Book, #43
Professional Reviews:
School Library Journal
New York Herald Tribune
All images (c)
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