The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey

November 4, 2007 – 12:55 pm

This classic storybook was first released in 1942, as part of the 12 book launch of the famous Little Golden Books line of books for young children published by American publisher Simon and Schuster. It has remained in print ever since, having the copyright renewed by the publisher last in 1970.
The launch of Amazon’s worldwide book selling venture saw these charming classic stories to children brought to the UK.

In Janette Sebring Lowrey’s charming tale, a small little puppy pokes along outside while his siblings play. He decides to go sniff a different patch of grass than they do, then wanders off to other parts of the garden, having a good old poke around at everything he finds. In the meantime, his brothers and sisters have been VERY naughty little puppies! The dig a hole under
the picket fence and go off for an adventure. They get caught out, and their mother is most displeased , telling them they will have no rice pudding after dinner for being so naughty. having been a good little puppy, he comes in, and escapes this, but tempted by the rice pudding, decides to eat it all himself. Chastened, his brothers and sisters are genuinely sorry for what
they did, and make amends with Mummy, who then discovers someone has came in and gobbled up all the rice pudding! Too full, he goes off by himself, and everyone else eats, getting strawberry shortcake instead of the rice
pudding. Everyone that is, except the Poky little Puppy. he is in bed, feeling quite sorry for himself, having a too full tummy.

It is a story gently told, and children as young as 3 and as old as six will enjoy it and be able to relate. What child has not wandered out the garden or opened the gate to do so and get chastened? The subplot of
being good then, but still getting in “trouble” later by being tempted to sweet treats in the fridge, or cooling on the counter, or an unattended biscuit barrel is also very relatable. I particularly liked the subtle way this
helped convey a few things

1. You should listen to what Mummy tells you
2. You shouldn’t take ANYTHING, not even pudding or biscuits, without Mummy saying its ok, and never get greedy with them
3. When someone else gets in trouble, understand that you too make mistakes
4. When you make a mistake, or are naughty, you should make amends

The illustrations in the book are the same ones from the original 1942 printing. Done by Gustaf Adolf Tenggren, the head illustrator for Walt Disney Studios (his work appears in the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Disney production, as well as Bambi, and Pinocchio of the period), it is full of his signature gently sweet expressions and colours influenced
by his Scandinavian heritage. There is a rounded softness to everything that is drawn that is reminiscent of the same soft roundedness we see in the face of a toddler, which he manages to capture in the faces and expressions of the puppies that is truly remarkable.

Between the writing style and the quality of the enduring, gentle tale, and its lovely pictures, it is perhaps not surprising that this book, is the world’s biggest best selling title in children’s books written in
English. I myself got a copy of this book back in 1974 and actually reread it as often as when I was 12, charmed by the pictures, and making excuses to read it to younger neighbours, who in turn got their own copies as they too fell
in love with the book. Upon seeing it now for sale in the UK thanks to Amazon,
I ordered this book as one of my son’s fourth birthday gifts, and he loves it so much that it is one of the books he frequently takes to “read” in bed. His six ear old sister enjoys the story so much, she is often found in her little chair, having borrowed the book, and likely as not having to read it aloud to her little brother. Ideal for a bedtime read aloud, the only place I have seen it in the UK so far is Amazon.co.uk., but is definitely worth
getting it.

by Shroud