Piper [Hardcover]

Emma Chichester Clark (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

Piper is a gentle dog, courageous and anxious to please. His mother told him to always obey his master, and he does his best to follow her advice. But when his grim new master treats Piper badly, he is terrified and runs away. Will his humble, quiet courage be better appreciated in the big city? This story will inspire young readers to stand up for themselves. And the lovable Piper is sure to capture their hearts.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Piper the puppy leaves his mother to go live with his first master, he keeps her three pieces of advice in mind: "Always obey your master. Always look both ways before you cross the street. And always help anyone in danger." But Mr. Jones's cruelty quickly becomes apparent, and Piper flees to the big city. There he saves an elderly lady from being hit by a car, but is almost lost for good in the hubbub surrounding the mishap. His luck turns, however, when the crowd of onlookers tracks him down and reunites him with the woman. "How lucky I am to have found you," says the lady, giving Piper a pet in his posh new digs. "Now we can both look after each other." Clark's (the Blue Kangaroo books) brisk storytelling keeps the story from sagging into a soap opera, and offers just enough twists (and even a chuckle or two) to keep readers turning the pages. The muted but emotionally razor-sharp pictures take on a cinematic, almost neo-realistic feel; the scenes in which the onlookers search for and find Piper possess all the drama and immediacy of live action. As for Piper himself, his kind eyes, long snout and gangly body speak volumes about his eager, good heart. And it will take a hard heart indeed to resist this story of a sweet-natured hound who finally finds the owner he deserves. Ages 5-up. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr2–A heartwarming tale of love and acceptance from the author of I Love You, Blue Kangaroo! (Doubleday, 1999). Piper, a kindhearted dog, runs away from his cruel owner. He ends up in a city, where he saves a woman's life and finds a new friend and comfortable home. The bleak colors of the vicious man's crooked house and barren land contrast with the warm hues of the city apartment and intensify the moods of these two settings. As the pup escapes, running through woods and across a river, the palette brightens; when he and the woman get together, soft tones predominate. The watercolor pictures are large and engaging and will work equally well one-on-one or in a group setting.–Jessica Lamarre, Medford Public Library, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (February 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802853145
• ISBN-13: 978-0802853141
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #341,112 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Sweet Story, April 14, 2007

By 

S. Carbrey "Shawn" (Honolulu, HI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Piper (Hardcover)

A pleasurable read, nice illustrations, a kind and lovable dog - adventure and happy ending - What else could you ask for in a children's book? We loved it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars gentle and heartwarming story about the importance of being true to oneself., June 10, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Piper (Hardcover)

Award-winning author and illustrator Emma Chichester Clark presents Piper, a picturebook about a gentle black dog taught by his mother to help others in trouble. Yet when his grim new master treats him badly for refusing to chase away rabbits, Piper runs away and searches the big city for a place where he can be appreciated. Piper rescues an old lady from being run over by a car, triggering a city-wide search to find the heroic and compassionate canine. A gentle and heartwarming story about the importance of being true to oneself.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very sweet, uplifting book!, May 6, 2008

By 

Joy Casey (Solana Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Piper (Hardcover)

Last weekend, I read this book to my three grandsons and they loved it! It is a fun, exciting, and touching book to read--especially if you read each part with plenty of emotion! Enjoy!