Madlenka's Dog [Hardcover]

Peter Sis (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Another delightful romp around Madlenka’s city block

Madlenka wants a dog! She doesn’t really care what kind, so long as it’s a dog that she can put on a leash and walk around the block. But her mother and father say NO! What is Madlenka to do? It just takes some imagination . . . Madlenka’s friends on the block all play along, remembering the dogs of their childhood, and in the end it seems quite possible that there’s more to Madlenka’s dog than we can see. With his considerable charm, Peter Sís uses lift-up flaps and peek-through windows to bring us into Madlenka’s magical world where play and fantasy make wishes come true.

 

Madlenka's Dog is a 2002 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year and a 2003 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Precocious little Madlenka is off again, around the world and back through time, without ever straying a block from her Manhattan home. This time, Madlenka wants a dog so badly that she gets her wish--or does she? None of her neighbors can seem to agree on just what sort of dog she's walking. (Never mind that Madlenka's red leash doesn't seem to be holding any sort of dog at all.)

We're once again on a trip through Madlenka's imagination, inspired by the fond canine remembrances of her neighbors and gently illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Peter Sís. "'Look, everyone. I'm walking my dog.' 'Oh, he's white and short,' says Mr. McGregor. 'No, he's big and woolly,' says Mr. Eduardo. Each sidewalk acquaintance shares their memories of dogs past with clever little flaps. A flip-up drum (McGregor plays for the FDNY Pipes and Drums) shows wee McGregor with his West Highland white terrier; Eduardo's bicycle produce cart pops open to a reveal a scene from the Andes, with Eduardito dwarfed by a towering Newfoundland.

Despite the very simple text, Madlenka's wild imaginings should hold up to enthusiastic rereading, especially as she travels into the fantastic past with her friend Cleopatra (who, as it happens, has an imaginary horse). But that's not surprising, given the involving nature of Madlenka's previous journey, the last time that Sís skillfully showed us the happy and peculiar place of a little girl "in the universe, on a planet, on a continent, in a country, in a city, in a house on a block where"--at least this time around--"everyone is walking a dog." (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

From Publishers Weekly

Favorite characters return for more fun and games. Her persistent requests for a dog denied, Madlenka takes matters into her own hands (and gets more than she bargained for) in Madlenka's Dog by Peter Sis. As Madlenka strolls her city block with her imaginary dog on a leash, lift-up flaps and die-cut windows reveal her neighbors' own dream dogs. (Apr.)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); First Edition edition (April 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374346992
• ISBN-13: 978-0374346997
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #343,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Madlenka's Back....., May 13, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Madlenka's Dog (Hardcover)

"In the universe, on a planet, on a continent, in a country, in a city, in a house on a block where everyone is walking a dog, there lives a girl named Madlenka who wants a dog very much..." Unfortunately her parents say NO! So Madlenka uses her very vivid imagination, and takes her invisible dog, complete with collar and leash, on a walk around the block. They greeting old and familiar friends who happily play along as they remember the special dogs of their past..... Award winning illustrator, Peter Sis is back, and his latest picture book, Madlenka's Dog, is just as charming and engaging as last year's Madlenka. Mr Sis keeps the text to a minimum, and let's his elegant and entertaining, detailed artwork tell the story. Children will enjoy poring over the pages, lifting flaps and peeking through die-cut holes. Little imaginations will soar as they travel around the block and to the far corners of the world on a magical journey with Madlenka and her neighbors. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Madlenka's Dog is Peter Sis at his best, and a captivating adventure kids will want to take again and again.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Madlenka's Dog, December 30, 2002

By 

"krishopkins" (Richland, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Madlenka's Dog (Hardcover)

My husband and I bought this book for our 4 year old daughter for Christmas since it had received such great reviews (in two different parenting magazines). It is a truly fantastic book. Our daughter already owns Peter Sis's book "Ballerina" and loves it. His illustrations and simple but poignant text captivate our daughter. She just "gets" his books. We appreciate the surprise flaps and vivid illustrations, but it is evident that she finds some magical quality in them I can't define.
I can't wait to see his next book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book!, January 30, 2005

By 

Melissa A. Mannon "melmann" (Bedford, NH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Madlenka's Dog (Hardcover)

My 18 month old loves this book! It works on many levels. The pictures are wonderful and the short sentences are rhythmic. The story can be used to teach about different cultures and using your imagination. The flaps make it especially exciting for those still in the peek-a-boo stage. I think this will be a family favorite for a long time.