RRRalph [Hardcover]

Lois Ehlert (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: May 3, 2011 | Age Range: 2 and up | Lexile Measure: 310L (What's this?)

Would you believe that Ralph the dog can talk? Yip, yip, yip--it's true!

With bestselling author Lois Ehlert's simple, funny, call-and-response text and bold, playful collage illustrations, this fresh, young book is sure to get little ones laughing (and talking to their dogs!)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Ralph is a talking dog. And the text of this clever book consists of questions posed to Ralph, the canine answers, and comments from an unseen narrator talking to introduces this amazing pet. Asked �What�s your name?� the dog answers, �RRRALPH/RALPH.� Asked �Where are you?� Ralph responds, �ROOF/ROOF.� Once kids get the joke, they�ll enjoy guessing the dog�s replies to queries such as �What�s on that tree?� and �How�s the path feel on your paws, Ralph?� Created with realia as well as painted and textured papers, the three-dimensional collage illustrations feature zippers for Ralph�s mouth, a metal pop-top for his nose, buttons for the birds� eyes, and actual bark for the tree�s trunk. The pages, colored in hot-pink, grass-green, and pumpkin, magnify the visual energy of the artwork and graphics. Each animal or object pictured shows up distinctly against a bright background, and Ralph�s words, along with the short lines of text, appear in large, bold type. With its appealing jacket art, clever text, and vibrant illustrations, this amusing picture book is a pleasure to read aloud, either individually or in story hour settings. Preschool-Grade 3. --Carolyn Phelan

Review

* "With its appealing jacket art, clever text, and vibrant illustrations, this amusing picture book is a pleasure to read aloud, either individually or in story hour settings."--Booklist, starred review

* "Bold and bright, filled with kid-pleasing riddles and collage illustrations, this is a perfect offering for new readers and storytime. Will these young readers want to create a sequel? Yip! Yip! --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Ever-innovative Ehlert attributes several different words to the family dog...Whether Ralph actually means what he says or not, it’s giggle-worthy; and doubling the fun are Ehlert’s brilliantly composed collages."--The Horn Book, starred review

"What do you do with "groaners," really bad jokes, in this case about dogs? Ehlert has gathered a few and turned them into a colorful, clever picture book.... An excellent selection for sharing one-on-one or reading aloud in a group setting."

--School Library Journal, May 2011

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Beach Lane Books (May 3, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1442413050
• ISBN-13: 978-1442413054
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #431,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

LOIS EHLERT has created many picture books, including Leaf Man, Pie in the Sky, In My World, Growing Vegetable Soup, Planting a Rainbow, and the bestselling Waiting for Wings. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Read Aloud ! May 7, 2011

By J. Prather TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Rrralph is a great read aloud that is sure to appeal to any young dog lover. It's a classic gag done in a simple, charming way that will have any child 2-5 running home to hear their dog talk. Ralph is a cutie, fashioned in the illustrator's trademark collage style. With his pop can tab nose, his button eyes, and his zipper mouth, you just can't help but smile!

There are pages that feature only text on a brightly colored background that ask the questions such as "What's your name?" and "How's the path feel on your paws, Ralph?" The following pages are big illustrations of Ralph answering with his Ralph words: Rrralph! and Rough!. The conversational tone and oversize illustrations make this a natural choice as a story time read aloud. Fun stuff and an enthusiastic recommend.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Talk about an early literacy buffet June 23, 2012

By JS

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Brilliant for a pre reader. My son is only 20 months old . He has memorized all of Ralph's responses. The pages are all given a different color, picture of Ralph and onomotapia; this together allows him to flip to those pages on his own and "read" the text. In actuality he has memorized it, but he is given clues by the colors, picture and text. This is a huge early literacy skill. This book has simple words and sounds toddlers love to repeat. Read this to your little ones again and again. Get into it! Bark and Howl....they will love it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars dog joke book May 23, 2011

By M. Heiss

Format:Hardcover

You may recognize Lois Ehlert's style - she illustrated "Chicka Chicka Boom BOOM," one of our old favorites. This book uses a very bold collage style of illustrations to showcase corny dog jokes, but the book absolutely works.

Get them laughing, keep them reading. Thanks, Lois Ehlert!

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for Preschool or Baby storytime! March 28, 2013

By Nanette C Woodward

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Recently I found myself in the position of having to combine our library's Preschool AND Baby storytimes into one combined session. This book was an absolute hit with both ages. The preschoolers joined in with the dog's throaty "words" while the babies' interest was held with the quick pace and few words per page. Both groups loved the large, colorful pictures. Even the parents loved this story's cute and clever play on the dog's "words" such as "ROOF, ROOF."

5.0 out of 5 stars RRRALPH January 6, 2013

By Nanny Jen

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is so funny! I've always loved Lois Ehlert's down-to-earth writing and the simplicity of her artwork. I would recommend this book for anyone with toddlers and preschool age children and for anyone who loves DOGS!

5.0 out of 5 stars An Explosion of Onomatopoeia Examples December 8, 2011

By Pamela Pirtle

Format:Hardcover

Very few words on each page and a great play on the old dog jokes all kids love to tell. Quick read for the short attention span of the very young readers/listeners that will have them giggling and laughing. Beware, you may hear the jokes many times in your house. Interesting illustration style using collage materials that can be used in talking about art or what the object is for the very young. The illustrations show students they can be an artist without being able to draw and paint. Writing teachers - it is great for onomatopoeia examples. Art teachers - great examples of using many different objects to create the picture.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars very clever December 26, 2012

By Carl W. Warford

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Book cane when promised. It is a very clever children's book. We looked it enough to buy 3 more for nieces and nephews.