2002 Caldecott Medal Book

Simont, M. (2001). Stray dog. New York: Harper Collins Publishers




A family goes out for picnic and encounters a scruffy, hungry dog. The children name the dog Willy. All day long, Willy and the children play, run and eat. When it was time to go, mother and father tell the children that Willy probably belonged to someone else and they leave him. Over the next week, Willy crosses the mind of the family, so much that they have to go back to the park, hoping to see Willy again. Sure enough, they see Willy but this time he's running from the dog warden. Quickly, the boy takes off his belt to make a leash and the girl uses her ribbon, from her hair, to make a collar. Willy leaves the picnic with the family and learns that the family was were he belonged.



Stray Dog captured my attention because I enjoy reading stories about animals, particularly strays. As a child, I always got in to trouble for feeding stray cats and dogs. This past summer, I took in a stray cat and have enjoyed every minute with him. This book will also be appealing for children with a love of animals.



A Tree Is Nice, written by Janice May Udry and illustrated by Marc Simont. Simont's illustrations were similar to that of Stray Dog. Simple illustrations and storyline allow the readers to understand the author's message. The Philharmonic Gets Dressed, written by Karla Kushin was illustrated by Marc Simont. Simont's humorous illustrations accompanied Karla Kushin comical storyline to create a story that holds the interest of its readers.



This story reflects to children that everyday experiences can possibly turn into a quality piece of literature. Stray Dog can inspire children to write about their childhood experiences and learn the importance of their words and experiences.



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