Customer Reviews

Sam's Cookie

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Around our house, Lindgren's "Sam's" books are hands-down favorites. Most books for babies are picture books -- mere catalogues of static images. A little boring after awhile, don't you think? Each of the "Sam's" books has a real narrative with a lively yet simple story that even a one year old can follow with delight. It's all there -- good characters, drama, humor, exciting climax and comforting resolution. This has got to be a cognative uptick from "See the ball? The red ball." Our Sam's books have been handed down through three children and have lasted ten years. The visually witty Sam's Cookie is everyone's favorite.

We really enjoy the short simple text that accompanies each page. In spite of the simple text, the story involves much drama for preschoolers. This is the first book my active little boy would sit through to completion.

When my teenagers were babies we read the Sam books over and over. Now we read it to my almost one-year old. The language is simple and the story is easy for toddlers to relate to. And it is so dramatic - perfect for silly voices and sound effects. After reading it twice, my daughter picked up the book herself and babbled about Sam and Dog.
If parents are uncomfortable with "Dumb Doggie", it is easy to substitute what they consider appropriate language. But, I think the book validates the way toddlers feel. I don't think it teaches children 'not to share' as some reviewed suggested; I think it teaches that Mommy will always come to the rescue - a lesson well worth reinforcing. And perhaps that pulling Doggie's ear can lead to scary results. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

My Jared has loved this book since we found it at the library when he was just 1. We read it over and over again. My 4 yr old has, of course, memorized it by now and chants it with me.

I agree that I don't like that Sam says "dumb doggie" and it's annoying that when we get to that page both kids will shout it with glee, shaking their fingers. However, neither child would pull our dog's ear or call it dumb because a. they aren't gleeful when they're upset with the dog and b. I teach them not to.

I am finally going to buy this book for Jared's 2nd birthday since we have had it and other Sam books out of the library non-stop for a year! (I have another kid on the way so I don't have to worry about him losing interest soon!)

I understand the parents who don't like it. However, I'm not looking for books to teach my children behavior. My husband and I do that. The books are here to spark interest, to get my children engaged, excited and curious. Jared adores this story, and if he loves books because of it his life will be enriched.

Other Sam books that show Doggie and Sam modeling very positive behavior are Sam's Teddy Bear, Sam's Wagon and Sam's Potty. Doggie helps out Sam very obligingly in all 3 of these.

A few reviewers have been upset by some of the language and actions of the characters in this book, but my 1 year old Sam absolutely loves this story. He enjoys hearing his name in books and he responds very positively to the story too. I was a bit bothered by some of the context of this story, but than I realized that the "Sam" in the book is a very young child, who at a certain age, is acting like many children do. He hasn't quite learned to share yet or how to properly manage the situation when the dog takes his cookie... its not uncommon for kids to go through this awkward stage. We read it and we point out what is appropriate along the way. This is a simple written book age and actions appropriate for children 1 and younger.

My daughter is a very independent 18 month old. She used to let me read her books, but she's now decided it's more interesting to "read" them herself and won't let me touch her books (let alone read them to her.) HOWEVER, these "Sam" books she absolutely adores. They are the only books she'll let me sit down and read to her (over and over and over again.) The simple-sentence text really helps her follow along, and the illustrations are classically darling. Sam interacts with things in her world that she loves: dogs, balls, teddy bears, baths, etc. Whatever the magic combination, my little girl is totally hooked, and I like her choice!

The Sam books have been with us for 10 years and three children. No other books compare for 18-36 month olds. The drama is so real to them: dogs are frightening to these littlest of children, and it is real drama to have a cookie stolen from their hands by a big, hungry dog. My sons are immediately drawn in by the stories. Another favorite is "Sam's Car", where Sam gets into a fight over a car with a little friend, until Mommy steps in with another car to save the day.

My 20-month-old loves to say "No no no no" to our dog (in a happy way)because of this book. It really resonates with my kid. She relates to having a dog who is pesky but beloved and often interested in the snack she is toddling around with.

Here's my take on the "violence" issue: the kid gets mad and pulls the dog's ears. (NOT hitting! And that hardly will translate to your kid getting mad and pulling a human friend's long, floppy ears.) The dog responds by nipping at the boy. This is how animals work. I think the argument for not pulling a dog's ears is obviously built right into the story.

My daughter has a vocabulary of 200 plus words and hasn't picked up "dumb" from this book. Honestly, considering I'm human and can let a really bad word slip once in a while, I think it would be just fine if she said "dumb" to let off a little steam once in a while. It doesn't get any milder than that.

This would probably be a bad choice for our little friends who are wary of dogs and don't have their own. I think it is an AWESOME choice for any toddler who lives with a dog, because THEY love it.

I'm just giving it 4 stars because it reads like an early reader.

My 2-year-old son loves this book and several of the other Sam books. Here is a rundown of the plot and a response to the negative reviews of this book. While Sam is eating his cookie, the dog steals it. Sam gets angry because the dog stole his cookie so he mistreats the dog. The dog gets angry for being mistreated and growls, scaring Sam. Mommy rescues Sam from the angry dog, gives Sam a replacement cookie and gives the dog a bone. Both Sam and the dog have learned their lessons, and all is well.

One reviewer wrote that Sam is spoiled, but I disagree; he gets a new cookie because it is justice to get a new cookie when yours is stolen, and that's how good toddler books end. The child reading this book learns that he can get help for a situation he can't yet handle, (even when he handles it wrong at first) and that things will turn out all right in the end, which makes the child feel safe. (Unfortunately, when they get older they learn that things don't always turn out all right.)

I agree that Sam mistreats the dog, but the story shows a natural consequence of mistreating an animal, since the dog responds by getting angry. It's a good opportunity to talk about how to treat animals, and the reaction of the dog in the book reinforces the idea that you don't mistreat animals, even when they do something you don't like. (You can discipline a dog without mistreating it.) The book is realistic and it does what books are supposed to do; it entertains while letting children experience difficult situations and consequences through fictional characters so they are better equipped to deal with things that happen in real life. Toddlers can relate to Sam and can enjoy correcting him (and the dog). My son likes to say, "No, no, doggie!" because he knows the dog should not take Sam's cookie. He also likes to tell Sam, "No hit dog!" when he sees Sam hurting the dog. He feels like a big boy when he knows right from wrong and can correct someone else (a child or an animal in a book) instead of being the one getting told "no" for a change.

The Sam books have been with us for 10 years and three children. No other books compare for 18-36 month olds. The drama is so real to them: dogs are frightening to these littlest of children, and it is real drama to have a cookie stolen from their hands by a big, hungry dog. My sons are immediately drawn in by the stories. Another favorite is "Sam's Car", where Sam gets into a fight over a car with a little friend, until Mommy steps in with another car to save the day.