Dog Eared [Hardcover]

Amanda Harvey (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 12, 2002 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

“Out of my way, Big Ears!”
Otis is happily strolling in the park one day when a bully dog taunts him with this insult. Poor Otis is crushed. Defeated! Suddenly his ears seem much too large. And he doesn’t know what to do about them. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Self-consciousness gets a shrewd appraisal in this tale of an insult, recounted by a white mutt with floppy brown ears. "I was walking home the other day/ when a large dog pushed into me and growled,/ `Out of my way, Big Ears!'/ Big Ears? I thought. Surely not./ But doubt crept into my mind." The anguished canine tries to glimpse himself in shop windows as his impatient owner tugs at his leash. At home, while the girl blithely reads a book, the hound folds and twists his ears in new styles and has nightmares of his ears filling up with wind and being tossed like a kite in a storm. Fortunately, "in the dead of night," his owner visits him and provides consolation: " `I love your large, silky, fabulous ears, Otis,' she whispered." The next day, the dog encounters the bully again, but his owner's pat on the head dispells his concerns. In gentle watercolors that complement the calm, retrospective voice, Harvey (Stormy Weather) matches the child's flyaway Pippi Longstocking braids to the pet's billowing ears. Like a best friend or a close family member, the girl understands the problem without having been told; her sincerity takes the sting out of a cruel remark, and the dog's internal monologue reflects a sense of humor as he slowly builds his confidence. Ages 3-6.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reSchool-Grade 3--Poor Otis! There he was, a large cheerful dog with big floppy ears, happily strolling down the street when a mean dog comes along and calls him "Big Ears." This leads to a crisis of confidence during which some corrective "ear-do's" are considered, a box of "horrible peppermint cream" is consumed, and several nightmares disturb Otis's sleep. But Lucy, his best friend, saves the day. She loves him no matter what. In fact, she especially loves his "large, silky, fabulous ears." Told from the dog's point of view, this delightful story has a protagonist with an adorable face and a winning, although somewhat insecure personality. The illustrations reinforce his demeanor exactly and the scenes in which he experiments with different ear styles are filled with lots of visual humor, as he mimics the looks of several of Lucy's stuffed animals and dolls. Lucy is equally winning, a skinny young girl with flyaway braids who keeps a low profile until the end when she cuddles with him to declare her love-and save his feelings. A great choice for storytime.
Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers (March 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385729111
• ISBN-13: 978-0385729116
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,607,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet and Engaging....., December 19, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dog Eared (Hardcover)

"I was walking home the other day when a large dog pushed into me and growled, "Out of my way, Big Ears!" Big Ears? I thought. Surely not. But doubt crept into my mind..." Poor Otis, the insult has really shaken his confidence. Now he can't stop looking at himself in shop windows. Are his ears really that big? That bully's name calling has changed everything. Otis doesn't want to play with his buddy, Max, or chase cats. He's lost his appetite, and no matter how many new "ear-dos" he tries out to minimize their size, nothing works. But fortunately, his owner understands the problem. "She snuggled next to me and wrapped one of my ears around her face. "I love your large, silky, fabulous ears, Otis," she whispered, and kissed the one that was keeping her warm..." Amanda Harvey's sensitive and heartwarming story has a simple message that won't be lost on even the youngest reader. Her entertaining text is engaging. But it's the playful and evocative illustrations, filled with gentle humor, marvelous facial expressions, and eye-catching detail that really make this picture book stand out and sparkle, and little ones will revel in the delightful twist at the end as Otis' confidence blooms. Perfect for youngsters 3-7, Dog Eared is an unlifting story that celebrates our differences, and shouldn't be missed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hound Dog Ears, January 24, 2007

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dog Eared: Starring Otis (Paperback)

A lovable hound mix with long ears was shoved aside by a bigger dog who taunts him and calls him Big Ears. Once tagged with the cruel nickname, Otis, the beautiful little hound mix loses his self esteem. He turns against his ears, finding them outsized and ludicrous looking.

Depressed over the mean dog's name calling, Otis becomes dispirited and no longer feels like playing with his friend Max or engaging in routine and pleasurable activites. He goes to incredible lengths to minimize the appearance of his ears, some of which are touching.

Luckily, the little hound has a loving owner who tells her hound she loves him unconditionally, ears and all. She tells him how beautiful and wonderful his ears are and helps restore his pride.

A good book for children of all ages with an obvious, yet well delivered message. The appealing characters and illustrations will no doubt delight many and don't be surprised if some of the pages become "dog eared" from repeated readings.

This is a good companion book to Gloria Estefan's book about Noelle, her lovable bulldog.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love the underdog!, April 25, 2002

By 

miesh (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dog Eared (Hardcover)

I learned to love Otis in just twenty pages. This book is a good easy reader with a story worth reading. ... ... but not this one) After a dog growls to him: "Out of my way, Big Ears." Otis becomes self-conscious. The pictures are full of emotion -- downtrodden Otis hangs his head and doesn't feel like doing his favorite things anymore...but there's a happy ending. Because Lucy (his person) tells him she loves his large, silky, fabulous ears -- Otis understands he is great the way he is. My two-year-old nephew loves the pictures and story -- and so does his thirty-two-year-old aunt. A good story about being proud of who you are. (technically geared to 1st-3rd grades)