One Small Dog [Hardcover]

Johanna Hurwitz (Author), Diane de Groat (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up

When Curtis's parents get divorced, he has a hard time getting used to all the changes. But there is one thing that will make him feel better--a dog.

At the animal shelter, Curtis finds Sammy, a friendly puppy with curly black fur, floppy ears, and perfect white teeth. He is sure he has chosen the very best dog in the whole shelter.

But when Sammy bites Curtis's mom, Curtis must face the reality that his puppy might not be so perfect after all. Beloved author Johanna Hurwitz writes with sensitivity about adjusting to a new family situation and the dilemma of loving a problem pet.

This touching story will have Hurwitz fans wondering: Will Curtis have to give Sammy up? Or will he do whatever it takes to keep his new best friend?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Hurwitz (Make Room for Elisa) affectingly treats two familiar themes in the plot of her latest novel divorce and pet ownership and places the rigors of childhood front and center. Ten-year-old Curtis, smarting from his parents' recent separation, narrates in a candid and endearing voice. For instance, in his response to his mother's statement that "half the couples in the United States are getting divorced these days," and he'll get used to it, he says: "'Yeah. But it stinks. Why couldn't we be part of the half that stays together?' I wanted to say more, but I was afraid I'd start crying." In an effort to make him happier, his mother agrees to Curtis's pleas for a dog, a request that his parents have turned down in the past. They head to a shelter, and the quickly adopted Sammy seems to be a panacea for Curtis's malaise. Yet several mishaps reveal the complications of owning a dog, the most serious of which occur when the feisty pooch bites Curtis's mother, three-year-old brother andAin a final wrenching sceneACurtis himself. In a concluding note to this poignant tale, a professional dog trainer emphasizes the importance of proper training of dogs. Hurwitz raises two difficult issues responsibly and credibly, and deGroat's finely etched, black-and-white illustrations underscore the genuine emotion that runs through this elucidating story. Ages 7-up.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-Not your usual boy-and-his-dog story, this tale comes with a few hard-earned lessons about responsible pet ownership. Fourth-grader Curtis lives in an apartment with his recently separated mother and younger brother, Mitchell. To help compensate for the pending divorce, Curtis's mother goes against her better judgment and allows him to select a puppy from an animal shelter. The one he chooses turns out to be a chewer. Having owned the dog only two weeks, Curtis's mother decides they cannot keep Sammy after he bites her and Mitchell. While attempting to run away with his pet, Curtis is bitten. After six stitches, he realizes that his mother is right, and his father gives Sammy to a friend who has the time and patience to train him. Hurwitz's story has no happily-ever-after ending but makes a strong statement about the consequences of taking a responsibility too lightly. DeGroat's realistic drawings are a bonus. A good message for aspiring or prospective pet owners.
Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688173829
• ISBN-13: 978-0688173821
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,391,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Happy, Then Sad, April 29, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: One Small Dog (Paperback)

In the beginning of the school year,I read this book.(I was in fourth grade)
This book is about a boy whose parents are getting a divorse. The boy gets a dog.The boy gets really close to the dog. But one day, the boy drops bacon on the floor, and when the boy trys to take it away from him, the dog bites him so hard, he goes to the hospital. His mom discides to get rid of the dog, and gets sent to a farm. Its sad because the boy say, "I will never have that warm feeling at my feet ever agein," or something like that.

4.0 out of 5 stars One Small Dog, August 31, 2001

By 

Cheri Farmer (Winchester, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Small Dog (Hardcover)

This is the story of a young boy, Curtis, dealing with the recent divorce of his parents. After some serious persuasion on Curtis' part, his mother decides to let him get a dog. After all, how much trouble could one small dog possibly be? Well, Curtis find's out that having a pet requires a lot of responsibility. Curtis learns alot in this story about the love of family. I found this book easy to read. As a teacher, I would suggest it to children struggling with the divorce of their parents. Overall it is a good book, however it is not a page turner.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book for dog lovers, June 6, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: One Small Dog (Paperback)

This is a book about a boy named Curtis and his brother Mitch.
Their mom and dad get a divorce. Curtis really wants a dog and his mom finally gives in. Curtis got a black dog named Sammy and
he loved it and it loved him.They went to his dads apartment and no pets where allowed. So his mom brings them home and Sammy bites everyone,so they wanted to take him back. What will happen
to Curtis and Sammy?

I really enjoyed this book because I love dogs very much. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs. What really made me enjoy this book was when Sammy chewed on Curtis' shoe. Another reason I enjoyed this because dogs are so cute when they are puppies.