Tucker Flips! [Hardcover]

Leslie McGuirk (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

The adorable cartoon doggie named Tucker comes home to America in an all-new picture book. Tucker is already a beloved character in Japan, where his best friend--New England artist Leslie McGuirk--first introduced him in a series of stories and merchandise. Now a whole new nation of young readers can find a best friend in this little terrier with big dreams and a loyal heart.

Tucker's two brothers eat, watch TV, and sleep. But Tucker has more on his mind--he likes to dive off the couch onto a pillow and dreams of playing with the children down the block. Soon fantasy becomes reality when the first snow strikes and Tucker takes the sled ride of his life!

With vibrant, childlike illustrations and a brief text, this handy-sized picture book is perfect for new readers, while its tongue-in-cheek humor will engage older siblings and even parents. Tucker Flips! shows just how much fun a little dog--and a little girl--can have.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Three white puppies frolic in this unpretentious picture book, whose elementary images and tiny trim size invite beginners. Tucker and his two brothers love to eat, sleep and play. In a montage of petite line drawings on an apple-green background, the identical pups demonstrate their favorite activities: "They played tug-of-war. They practiced barking." On his own, Tucker enjoys diving from the couch to a soft pillow. This urge for deeds of derring-do serves him well one winter day, when a bumpy sled ride tosses him into the air. A dotted line in the solid blue sky maps Tucker's end-over-end trajectory into snow that's the same pure white as his fur ("He wagged his tail to show [his mother] that he was okay"). The title suspensefully anticipates Tucker's performance, but, disappointingly, no pictures show him practicing his feat. On the other hand, McGuirk, who has published children's books in Japan, writes concise sentences and skillfully pares down her illustrations to a few careful lines and opaque colors. Her playful caricatures of West Highland white terriers (with their wiry coats, pointed ears and black-dot eyes and noses) suggest the pups' na?vet? and infectious bouncy energy. Children may well flip over this endearing daredevil. Ages 3-up. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

PreSchool-K-Tucker and his two canine brothers eat, sleep, play games, and watch adventure shows on TV. An adventurer himself, Tucker likes to jump off the couch onto a pillow or practice skateboarding. One wintry day, Mother takes the pups outside and shows them neat tricks like how to make snow yellow and how to dig tunnels. Now, while the others dream of food, Tucker has visions of sledding like the children he's seen outdoors. In the culminating action sequence, he hops on a sled, hits a bump, and goes flipping through the air, landing safely in the soft and fluffy snow. Short, direct statements move the tale along at a steady clip. There is a solid story construct with a defined beginning, middle, and rousing end. The love of the dogs' mother lends support and comfort. The illustrations of the four West Highland white terriers are bright and lively, and their bodies contrast nicely with the flat expanses of bold background colors. The two children are gnomelike figures. This square book is diminutive in size, allowing for heightened intimacy. Tucker is a pup whose individuality is celebrated-even though he's a carbon copy of his brothers.
Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525462597
• ISBN-13: 978-0525462590
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #323,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tucker is Terrific, January 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Tucker Flips! (Hardcover)

My 3 year old boy and 1 year old girl love this book about a cute little white puppy who is more adventurous than his two brothers! the drawings are amazingly cute and unique and the book is written right at kid-level. my son learned to "read" it in just one sitting, it appealed to him so much! the story is about a real dog, and the writer clearly loves and respects animals and kids. excellent!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inciting imagination in children, June 21, 2000

By 

Nina Wormuth (Scranton, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tucker Flips! (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful, creative book for young children that promotes imagination and lots of giggles. The illustrations are most appealing to a child as they are simple and colorful. As a teacher of young, special needs children,I have read this book to my students. It delighted everyone and held their attention. It is a book that will become a family favorite and will be read many times. Adults will smile while reading it to children.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We Flipped for Tucker, January 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Tucker Flips! (Hardcover)

My high energy children ages 5 and 2 loved this little tale about the adventurous fun loving Tucker. Rarely do I find a book at this age level that so captures their undivided attention. They giggle at Tucker's escapades and delight in the fact that he loves to have fun as much as they do. When you read this book over and over like we do, you will also have a good time picking out the humor in McGuirk's illustrations. In text and illustration, this is a book full of life and fun.