Letter to Amy

Letter to Amy
by
Ezra Jack Keats
children's fiction,
ages 3-6

Peter is the main character in more than one Keats book. Peter, a little African American boy, lives in NYC and has simple adventures that are age appropriate.
In this book, Peter has a girl friend. He worries that his boy friends will think he is funny to have a girl as a friend. It is an appealing plot and boys and girls should both enjoy this book.
The illustrations are ripped paper and watercolors. Keats' story is tender and universal. I give bonus points for the use of the dachshund in the background and you can see that a number of books that I have reviewed have featured dachshunds.
It is copyright 1968, but is still timely and relevant.

Noodle

Noodle
by
Munro Leaf and Ludwig Belemans
children's fiction, ages 3-5.

Noodle, the dachshund, wants to change. He is tired of being a long and low dog that can't reach things. He asks other animals what they think the ideal shape for an animal is.

This simple book is a classic. I think I read it as a child. It was originally published in 1937 and is still enjoyable today.

Put this on the shelf with other wiener dog books that I have mentioned in my blog.

Hallo-Weiner

Hallo-Weiner
by
Dav Pilkey
children's fiction ages 4-8.

School Library Journal says "This may be the funniest Halloween story ever written".

Oscar (Oscar Myer that is) is a dachshund. The other dogs laugh at how low and long he is. His mother is no help, calling him her little Vienna sausage and her frankfurter. Will he find his own special niche in life like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer or Nestor the Long Eared Donkey?
http://www.rankinbass.com/
http://enchantedworldofrankinbass.blogspot.com/

If you have been grossed out by Dav Pilkey's other works, like Captain Underpants, don't worry about this one. The Hallo-weiner is just plain funny with no poop jokes. It is not scary at all. Re-reading this book, I see that it is one that you can have children try to find the cats or the jack-o-lantern on each page.

This is a good story to read aloud at Halloween. I read this a few years ago accompanied by Ginger, the dachshund, who was a hit at storytime. For dachshund lovers, try also Pretzel by H. A. and Margret Rey of Curious George fame.

http://www.pilkey.com/bookview.php?id=38