Comments on The Picnic Basket: Who Wants to Be a Poodle I Don't • Picture book

This book story little bit similar with my life be...

2011-04-22T05:57:22.060-04:00

This book story little bit similar with my life because i love animals..Thank for posting this book

I hope you happy and wish you good luck! This hel...

2011-04-04T06:25:47.495-04:00

I hope you happy and wish you good luck!
This helpful information.

Absolutely hysterical! 5 year olds loved the story...

2010-05-11T13:39:37.122-04:00

Absolutely hysterical! 5 year olds loved the story and the illustrations. Great book to talk about the feelings of an animal and point of view.

Cute book my preschooler greatly enjoyed. Great i...

2009-12-27T17:21:35.446-05:00

Cute book my preschooler greatly enjoyed. Great illustrations and a positive message about being yourself. Can't wait to share with my third and fourth graders! 4 stars

Who wants to be a poodle I don’t This book is an ...

2009-11-19T09:55:47.964-05:00

Who wants to be a poodle I don’t

This book is an enjoyable read that begs to be read again and again. One reading of the book is not enough due to the elaborate illustrations that beg to be studied. Your eyes will be drawn to the illustrations and then to the text. Lauren Child certainly had fun creating this fanciful book. The illustrations are done in scrapbook/collage. The text and illustrations are very well in tune with each other. The main character, a pampered poodle named Trixie Twinkle Toes Trot-a-Lot Delight, doesn’t enjoy all of the pampering. I would suggest this book for first grade and above due to the length of the book and the vocabulary. The book could easily be used for vocabulary lessons for a classroom. I give this book a 5.
Mary Lou D, literacy facilitator, Bella Vista Elementary, Cottonwood Heights, Utah

My 4th grader, who is a big fan of Lauren Child’s ...

2009-11-12T10:51:00.147-05:00

My 4th grader, who is a big fan of Lauren Child’s Charlie and Lola, joined me reviewing this book. She read and I listened. We both examined the quirky illustrations. We both liked the story and empathized with the misunderstood pooch. We enjoyed the artwork and found it as funny and interesting as the story. This one is a winner! 4.5 out 5

Adorable!! The rhyme and rhythm of this book was f...

2009-11-09T18:08:38.335-05:00

Adorable!! The rhyme and rhythm of this book was fun and upbeat. The poodle was fun, authentic and probably close to what a pampered dog would be feeling. Loved it!

Any book with a "pet theme" gets my vote...

2009-11-08T15:21:00.041-05:00

Any book with a "pet theme" gets my vote. At first glance I thought this book was going to be silly or not appropriate for younger kids but once I started it I realized it is an entertaining and creative read that students love!

My son was really into it as we have cats and no dog, so he loved the pictures of the poodle. Sometimes there is nothing better than a simple story that catches the imagination. I loved the book...

Picnic Basket Rating: 5/5

Lindsay Horne
New Kent Middle School
New Kent, VA

What a cute book! There are many wonderful aspects...

2009-11-03T11:19:09.030-05:00

What a cute book! There are many wonderful aspects to Who Wants to be a Poodle I don't. To begin the cover will attract many, the illustrations will attract more, and the story will make them a fan! I am an elementary school librarian and I shared this book with a few different classes ranging from 1st-3rd grade. I was interested to see if the boys would enjoy the story (the cover is pink and "girly"). To my surprise many of the boys loved the story. The story is about a sophisticated young girl and her pampered pet poodle. The only problem, Trixie Twinkle Toes (the poodles name) dreams of jumping in puddles, getting dirty, and just being a regular dog. In the end, Trixies owner finally understands her (only after Trixie saves a drowning chihuahua), and allows her to partake in some regular dog activities.
I would rate this book a 4 in my picnic basket

A laugh-out-loud tale for children and adults to s...

2009-10-30T16:12:13.218-04:00

A laugh-out-loud tale for children and adults to share together. As an early literacy skills instructor, I would recommend this book for teaching print awareness to children because of all the fun ways text is used. I loved the illustrations with all the fancy, realistic patterns and textures. My only complaint is that sometimes it was difficult to read the text because there was too much going on in the background patterns.

I love Lauren Child's work. I fell in love wit...

2009-10-30T11:50:30.805-04:00

I love Lauren Child's work. I fell in love with Charlie and Lola when my daughter started watching the series on tv. I think her collage artwork is stunning. So really, I am a huge fan so I was ultra-disappointed when peaceful girl and I settled in to read her latest, Who wants to be a poodle-I don't!! The front cover definetely drew us in but right in the first few pages we were thrown. Peaceful girl is working very hard to be a reader and it has been her practice of late to read the first few pages of our bedtime books. She had just recently read me a Charlie and Lola book and she felt confident she could read this one. Her little face fell on the very first page of print though as it is written in fancy cursive script and she said so "can't read that"! Well, we got past that as I pointed out printed sentences she could handle and we did read it together, but it was a struggle. The story line is wonderfully imaginative-really, a poodle who wants to be more daring, what a fabulous idea!! This time though her artwork goes over the top and makes it difficult to find and read the words. Peaceful girl still liked the book and for all Lauren Child's fans you will also. For an elementary library though I would rate it 3 out of 5 just because students will have difficulty reading it on their own and it won't make an easy read-aloud for teachers. More accomplished readers will find it fun and challenging.
Michelle Holt
McKinstry Library

I shared this book with my first graders. My girls...

2009-10-29T23:03:27.203-04:00

I shared this book with my first graders. My girls were instantly attracted to the poodle illustration on the pink cover.
I loved the collage format of the illustrations throughout the book.
This would be a great book to explore text features: various font sizes and styles, patterned text, and the movement of text across the pages. Although my class of mostly ESL students did need help with some of the vocabulary, they did enjoy it as a read-aloud. I think this book would be perfectly suited for grades 2-4.

I tested out this book with my 1st, 2nd, and 3...

2009-10-29T17:38:00.942-04:00

I tested out this book with my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade library classes and was surprised by the positive response. Their responses included that it was "funny - cool that she starts to be a bad girl - I like that the doctor's are confuse - the author added a lot of details - I liked the transformation of the poodle - it made me laugh." There is a lot of high-level vocabulary in this book, but the kids didn't seem to mind. The only problem I encountered was reading the book out loud. They way the text fits and winds around the illustrations sometimes makes it difficult to read out loud. Overall, another great book by Lauren Child. I would give it a 4 out of 5.

Kevin Hudson
Library Media Specialist
Vancouver, WA

This book delighted my students to no end---boys a...

2009-10-28T09:25:44.197-04:00

This book delighted my students to no end---boys and girls alike.
The rhythm and rhyme to the story, the word choice, and the presentation all worked together perfectly.
At first I thought this story would just be about a pampered pooch, but it was so much more than that.
This is a perfect book to model word choice and presentation.
It was so much fun to read, my students ask to hear it over and over.
My reluctant writers are motivated to keep going with the goal of having a finished product that's equally fun.
The textured front cover and picture on the back cover was a great addition.
I rate this book a 5 out of 5.
Laura Backman
Hathaway School
Author of "Lemon the Duck"
http://lemontheduck.com

This book is just adorable! I absolutely love the...

2009-10-28T08:43:03.590-04:00

This book is just adorable! I absolutely love the illustrations. The way it is written is so creative- the words just dance along the pages. I am very excited to share this with my class. I know they will just love it!

5 out of 5.

I look forward to sharing this with my Kindergarte...

2009-10-27T20:53:10.510-04:00

I look forward to sharing this with my Kindergarten class although I can easily see how students at nearly every level would enjoy this delightful story! This is a must-have for libraries and will make a terrific read aloud for classrooms. 5/5

I read this book twice. I loved. The rhyme and s...

2009-10-27T19:45:49.161-04:00

I read this book twice. I loved. The rhyme and story line were wonderful. A story told from the perspective of the poodle, what a great idea. i have always wondered how much dogs liked being pampered. According to trixie Twinkle toes Trot-a-Lot Delight, poodles would like to be treated like other dogs. It is okay to be pampered on occasion but not consstantly. It is also not appropriate to give them long names. One thing that I like even more than the story was the pictures. I could not find the name of the person who created such wonderful pictures to go along with the story. It looked as if they had used scrapbooking papers and possibly fabric to create the looks. It was bright, cheery adn gave the feel of elegance. By thsi I mean the poodle was pampered and the owner bought expensive items so teh choice of backgrounds and papers used gave the impression of elegance. Thsi book will be a gift to one of my young friends Charlotte. She is 4 years old and loves to read to her mommy (an art teacher) every night. I know the two of them will thoroughly enjoy this book.

When I first saw WHO WANTS TO BE A POODLE I DON...

2009-10-27T10:21:48.554-04:00

When I first saw WHO WANTS TO BE A POODLE I DON'T by Lauren Child, I thought the cover was absolutely gorgeous. Of course, I am a sucker for the color pink and cute little dogs; but the cover was textured for the dog's curls and the collar even had a fake rhinestone embedded in it! It was just too adorable -- and "very girly" according to Booking Son!

Despite my son's initial impressions of WHO WANTS TO BE A POODLE I DON'T, he actually ended up really liking the book. I did too! We both came to the same conclusion about this story, but I'm not entirely sure it was for the same reasons. We both liked the story, but I think he liked the dog and I liked the presentation. I think it's safe to say that WHO WANTS TO BE A POODLE I DON'T is a picture book that can appeal to kids of all ages!

The story is just precious. A very-pampered poodle decides that she doesn't want to be a poodle -- she just wants to be a normal dog and play in puddles. Booking Son truly appreciated that a dog wouldn't want to be dressed up in raincoats and forced to stay inside unless the weather was nice. He loved that the dog eventually was able to play in puddles and just enjoy being a dog!

As I read this book to my son, I thought the pictures were terrific. I liked this illustrations of the dog, Trixie Twinkle Toes Trot-a-Lot Delight, and her owner Verity Brulee; however, I absolutely loved how the entire story was presented. Each page looked as if the characters and objects were cut-out of patterned paper; and the text was all different sizes and wrapped around the pictures. The entire time I read this book, I kept thinking that the characters looked familiar and they reminded me of something. It wasn't until a few days later that I realized Lauren Child is the creator of the Charlie and Lola books -- it all made sense!

I definitely recommend WHO WANTS TO BE A POODLE I DON'T to preschoolers, elementary age kids, parents, and teachers. It's a beautiful book that also has an entertaining story, and it's perfect for reading aloud. In fact, I was excited to find that there are activities geared towards this book including a connect-the-dots, a matching game, and a word find. It really is a perfect book for teachers to feature in their classrooms.

Rating: 4/5
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/

I am a fan of Lauren Child books and this witty an...

2009-10-26T22:26:08.172-04:00

I am a fan of Lauren Child books and this witty and fun to read book is now one of my favorites. I found myself feeling a wide range of emotions as Trixie tries to convey her unhappiness to Verity - actions do speak louder than words. Readers of all ages will love the depth of the illustrations and the way the placement of the text flows with the illustrations is impressive. This is a book that you will want to revisit again and again.

Lauren Child has created an experience in word and...

2009-10-25T19:49:47.284-04:00

Lauren Child has created an experience in word and texture that provides a fun and colorful story. Readers young and old will be able to experience the many patterns and textures utilized by Child to relate the frilly story of the poodle that liked puddles. At times, the textures and collages completely overwhelm the printed word on the page. The excess does further the point that poodles, and Trixie Twinkle Toes in particular, live in such a world that is extravagantly and ridiculously pretentious.

At times the words on the page are hard to read and do require that the book be maneuvered to accommodate the reader and any audience that is participating. The subtlety of the many patters used on the pages also calls for a more personal reading experience. As a consequence, this might not be the best book to read aloud with a larger group. However, the story does lend itself to retelling and adaptation. The story is both memorable and rich with fully developed characters.

This book should appeal to the targeted audience of 4-8 years, but older readers will appreciate it differently because they will be able to manage the twists and turns of the text. Classrooms and libraries will want to add it to their many other books that include dogs and maybe even hold a contest to rename Trixie with a more dazzling and dangerous name.

Almost a 4

John Parker
Media Coordinator
Andrews High School
50 HS Drive
Andrews, NC 28901
www.slamguy.wordpress.com

Being the dog lover that I am and the proud owner ...

2009-10-24T10:38:55.582-04:00

Being the dog lover that I am and the proud owner of a Cockapoo, I was very excited to receive "Who Wants to be a Poodle - I Don't". The story is very cute and funny and will be most appreciated by older students that can understand the humor and vocabulary. Younger students will love the pictures and the way the words dance across the pages. The artwork and use of textures will make this a favorite to return to again and again.

I think that the way the words are placed around the pages could be confusing for beginning readers who are not sure where to start reading text and where to go next. I would hold off on showing it to 1st graders until the end of the year when they should have directionality and return sweep solid.

I'm glad Child wrote this book to get the word out that poodles are sassy and full of personality...they're not just for show anymore!

I give this book a 5 out of 5!

Heather Hill, Reading Specialist
Enterprise Elementary
Woodbridge, VA

What a cute book. I enjoyed the creativity of the...

2009-10-23T10:10:25.414-04:00

What a cute book. I enjoyed the creativity of the writter. It is a nice book to show students about using text in a variety of ways. You couldn't help but like the "Poodle". One of my eighth grade students picked it up and enjoyed it. I think that a book pet dogs will always be adored by children of any age.
4/5 in my basket.

This is the type of book you hug, because the pres...

2009-10-22T20:07:14.809-04:00

This is the type of book you hug, because the presentation is that spectacular! A work of art is what this book is, from the dazzling gem on the cover, to the precise and textured filled collage illustrations. I love the flow of the text and how it confidently breaks all left to right print rules. It models a relationship between the text and the illustrations in such a seamless manner and interesting way. A creative story that hasn't been written before! The art of the picture book world is honored here.

Carol Null
K-8 Librarian
SWH, Maine

The cover of the book looks so cute that it grabs ...

2009-10-21T14:53:31.831-04:00

The cover of the book looks so cute that it grabs your attention. The white poodle with her nose in the air and her pretty diamond collar.

As I read the book, I thought it might be difficult for the recommended age group of 4-8 years to follow the twists and turns. However, I do believe it can be read to that age group, and say 3rd-5th graders could read it on their own. The illustrations are beautiful and the story has a great message to the reader. I give the book a 5.

A quite delightful story. I am sure that my third...

2009-10-20T23:15:28.248-04:00

A quite delightful story. I am sure that my third graders will love this. The creative way to teach and display different style of prose. I think this book will be enjoyed by both the 3 and 4th graders. I think that this book will be read by the teacher and the students to understand the great way to express one's story