I Am Puppy Hear Me Yap: The Ages of Dog [Hardcover]

Valerie Shaff (Author), Roy Blount Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 24, 2000

Who enters the world with the faintest inkling
There's anything wrong with spontaneous tinkling?

How do puppies see the world? Each other? Us? What do young dogs really think? What are the rites of passage from puppyhood to doghood? I Am Puppy, Hear Me Yap is a fascinating collection of more than fifty delightful and witty photographs by Valerie Shaff, whose portraits are unique in their uncanny ability to capture the essence of each young dog and puppy. Roy Blount Jr.'s incomparable text brings these pups hilariously to life, and he comes as close to capturing the inner thoughts of canines as any human can. Together, Shaff and Blout take us to the brink of understanding the different ages of dogs.

What's that? I've got
Dirt on my tongue?
And were you not
Ever young?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From the pugnacious pup on the cover to the sad-eyed sweetie hiding on the back side, I Am Puppy, Hear Me Yap is a book guaranteed to melt the heart of even the grimmest Cruella de Vil impersonator. Valerie Shaff's photography showcases our four-legged friends in many of their finest moments--chewing on slippers, rolling in the clover, and shaking the water off their fuzzy puppy fur are just a few of the classics captured here. With the combination of close-up shots and gentle sepia-toned images, the unique details of each pup's face are shown to advantage. From sleepy newborn retrievers to sophisticated poodles, personality shines through in these portraits. You're sure to at least entertain the thought of inviting a new canine companion into your life. The poetry of Roy Blount Jr. is the perfect companion to such delightful photos; in every case, the master wordsmith manages to sum up the emotion in the picture in just a line or two, as in the photo of two snuggling pups paired with

Each small sigh serves to reiterate
Nobody fits quite like a littermate.

With pieces like that, it's clear that Blount enjoyed creating his rhymes as much as we enjoy reading them. The pintsized beast from the cover makes another appearance inside the pages, this time next to a poem that begins with the title of the book:

I am puppy, hear me yap
No, I won't sit in your lap
I've got other things to do
For instance, bark at you.

Whether you prefer pooches sweet and cuddly or fiercely attacking your ankle, this lovely little book is sure to show you the doggie of your dreams. --Jill Lightner

About the Author

Valerie Shaff is renowned for her commissioned dog portraits. Her photographs have appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, Cigar Aficionado, and Martha Stewart Living. Her first book, also with Roy Blount Jr., is the wonderfully successful If Only You Knew How Much I Smell You: True Portraits of Dogs. She lives in New York City and upstate New York with her dog, Rex.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Harper; 1st edition (October 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006019488X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060194888
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,511,875 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for dog lovers of all ages, November 22, 2000

By 

Kylie D. Nelson (Jacksonville, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Am Puppy Hear Me Yap: The Ages of Dog (Hardcover)

This is a delightful book. Told from a dog's perspective, Blount's verse is clever and perfectly matched to the stunning black and white photographs it accompanies.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Xmas gift!, November 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: I Am Puppy Hear Me Yap: The Ages of Dog (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my father for Christmas, but he's getting it "used" because I just had to read it as soon as it arrived. I love the pictures, and the poems are terrific. I can just hear Boy Blunt's voice. I can't wait till Christmas morning to hear my dad read it aloud. (No, no one paid me to say these things!)

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am Puppy - Hear me Yap, December 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: I Am Puppy Hear Me Yap: The Ages of Dog (Hardcover)

This is the best combination word/picture book I have ever seen. It's very clever the way the verse just fits the photos. Anyone who has ever owned a puppy no matter what breed [or lack thereof] will take a trip down memory lane by reading this. I bought it for my niece, but I don't know if she's ever going to receive it. I'm having too much fun with it. A rare find!