Not My Dog [Hardcover]

Colby Rodowsky (Author), Thomas F. Yezerski (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Ellie Martin fiercely resists her new dog's charms

It isn't Ellie's fault, really. She's always wanted a puppy, and now that she's almost nine, finally old enough to get one, Preston is foisted on her. What's more, her parents say that this fully grown mutt that Great-aunt Margaret can no longer keep will have to do. They can't very well have a dog and a puppy. Although heartbroken and resentful, Ellie does see Preston's virtues. Still, she refuses to accept him as her dog. Then Ellie's resistance almost costs her Preston, and at last she embraces him. Colby Rodowsky's story about a child's change of heart has just enough tenderness -- and just enough bite -- to satisfy young dog lovers. Captivating drawings by Thomas F. Yezerski highlight the experience.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Rodowsky (The Turnabout Shop) is right on target expressing how it feels to receive a gift that is not quite right. For three years, eight-year-old Ellie has been dreaming of getting a dog that will "give puppy kisses" and "skid across the floor, his toenails making clicking sounds against the wood." But her dream misfires when Great-Aunt Margaret has to move into an apartment that won't take her dog, Preston, and Ellie's parents offer to adopt him. Preston looks like Ellie's worst nightmare, "a sort of square, boring brown dog with sticking-up ears and a skinny tail." It does not take Ellie long, however, to realize that the pooch has some redeeming qualities: when Ellie gets sick, he stays by her side, and when she gets lost in her friend's neighborhood, he leads her home. Turning her attention to a younger audience, the author writes a genuine, gently humorous and uncomplicated story about compromise and love. Readers will alternately empathize with Ellie, who has to settle for a hand-me-down pet, and Preston, who suffers a bout of homesickness before winning his new owner's affection. Illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 7-11.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-Ellie Martin has always wanted a puppy and her parents have promised that she can have one when she turns nine. Before her birthday, a letter arrives from her great-aunt, who explains that she must move into an apartment where pets are not allowed. Trying to make the best of a difficult situation, Ellie's parents tell their daughter that she can have her great-aunt's dog, Preston. To Ellie, he is a boring, brown dog and definitely not what she had in mind. Preston, however, proves to be a good friend; he helps her find her way home when she gets lost and keeps her company when she gets sick. Slowly, Ellie's affection for the animal grows. This beginning chapter book will have readers rooting for Preston and empathizing with the girl as she struggles with disappointment. The dilemma of an elderly person who is unable to keep her beloved pet is sensitively treated and adds to the realism of the story. Occasional black-and-white drawings illustrate the text.
Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1St Edition edition (March 31, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374355312
• ISBN-13: 978-0374355319
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,646,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice book about pet adoption, April 12, 2010

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Not My Dog (Sunburst Book) (Paperback)

"Not My Dog"
by Colby Rodowsky
(Farrar, Strauss Giroux, 1999)
-----------------------------------------
A sweet, well-measured book about a young girl named Ellie who has long dreamt of getting a cuddly little puppy, but is upset when her parents bring home an older, scruffier rescue dog instead. Ellie sulks and refuses to call the poor pooch "her" dog, even as she is slowly won over and comes to love him as much as she would have loved a pup. The writing is nice, as the language subtly shifts from chapter to chapter, reflecting the changes in Ellie's attitude towards the new dog. A nice, quiet book about pet ownership and adoption. Recommended. (Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain book reviews)

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love story, April 16, 2000

By 

cmmc - See all my reviews

This review is from: Not My Dog (Hardcover)

"Not my Dog" is not great literature, but it is a darling story. All adults and most children have at some time wanted something so badly that any substitute falls short. Ellie wanted a puppy and when the family took Great-aunt Margaret's dog because she could not have him in her new apartment, Ellie was broken hearted and knew in her heart that Preston would never be her dog. But as happens, Preston turned out to be special.

4.0 out of 5 stars For Dog Lovers of all Ages!, October 27, 2008

By 

M. Gilbert (Wilmington, DE) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Not My Dog (Sunburst Book) (Paperback)

This is a heart warming story about a girl who REALLY wants a dog and her feelings when a "hand-me-down" dog joins the family. The girls emotions are true to life and the ending is quite appropriate for the storyline. Teachers and librarians should have this book available for students in grades 1 through 4.