The Great Gracie Chase: Stop That Dog! (Hardcover)

by Cynthia Rylant (Author), Mark Teague (Illustrator) "Once there was a little round dog named Gracie Rose..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Poor Gracie. All this little pooch wanted was a quiet house, with "the kitty sleeping on the windowsill, the big dog sleeping on the couch, the quiet fish going ploop-ploop." But then one day the painters came. In a "big, noisy truck," with "clangy ladders and big-person voices." Clearly, there was only one solution: "She barked and barked and told them to go outside. But do you know what? Gracie was put outside!"

And so begins the Great Gracie Chase, as this otherwise obedient little pup goes from miffed to mischievous, leading everyone from the paperboy to the delivery woman to the painters themselves on a town-wide caper, in search of the one thing she wants most--a little peace and quiet.

As a proven master of the cute but not cloying, Cynthia Rylant (author and illustrator of Dog Heaven and Cat Heaven) sets a fun pace for little Gracie Rose (also the name of her real-life dog). But the real winner in Chase is rascally illustrator Mark Teague, who infuses wit and bounce into subject matter that's decidedly more mundane than in some of his other work (How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?, The Lost and Found). (Ages 4 to 8) Paul Hughes

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1-This simple story is a delight. Gracie Rose, a little round dog, lives with a cat, a bigger dog, and a goldfish. This charming canine loves peace and quiet and is always well behaved, until the day the noisy painters arrive. When she barks in annoyance, she's the one put outside and once there, she takes a walk all by herself. A comic chase ensues and soon a diverse group of animals and townspeople are tailing after Gracie across the entire town. The pursuers finally halt when their energy runs out and the perky pup returns home to relish the quiet again. In the hands of Rylant and Teague, this basic event has charm, humor, and joy. The full-page illustrations incorporate the text and convey a droll situation with `50s-style acrylic cartoonlike characters and background. A runaway success for storyhour.-Beth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Blue Sky Press (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590100416
• ISBN-13: 978-0590100410
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 10.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #223,878 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Screwball Comedy, May 25, 2005

By	M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This book really begins on page 6. That's where a usually quiet-loving, obedient dog starts a rampage through town, as well as where illustrator Teague moves from static interiors to imaginative, cotton candy exteriors. In these views, objects and people are rounded and seemingly filled with Styrofoam, and the perspective is curved and distorted. It's the two dimensional equivalent of Disneyland's "Toon Town," except that the late 1940's/early 50's style is even more evident, more like the Disney kids' noir film, "Who Shot Roger Rabbit," on which "Toon Town" is based.

This story contains no sexy rabbits, however, Instead , it's the story of one sweet and innocent dog who wreaks havoc in his little rounded hometown. When the marshmallow-looking painters arrive to redo her owner's gingerbread house, Gracie the puppy goes through the forbidden front gate (also curved, and framed by flowers that look ready to sing), and she "decided to do something naughty. Gracie decided to take a walk-ALL BY HERSELF." When everyone comes outside to look for Gracie, some canine instinct comes over her, and she begins to run, chased by painters, neighbors, boys and girls, and more and more townspeople (and even a bunny!). Gracie bounds into the curvy streets, under the billowy soap bubble skies, and takes off, tail wagging, tongue hanging and paws pounding. She leads the whole town--including the personified curving architecture-into screwball comedy territory. Teague's acrylic illustrations are right on target; he draws this broadly, with action, clothes, and even people's stances right out of central casting around 1943.

I thought the conclusion was fittingly zany as well. Gracie leaves the others behind as their feet and bicycles wear out, and "suddenly Gracie realized how quiet [italicized] everything was again...People were resting. How nice, Gracie thought. [next page]. So that silly little dog turned around and walked back home ALL BY HERSELF!" When she returns nonchalantly, the wiped out citizens seem astonished and amazed (one tired painter puts his palm against the side of his face, a little like Jack Benny). While my enthusiasm my lead some to infer that this wacky book is one primarily for adult movie fans, the book's excitement and sense of naughty/innocent fun will appeal equally to children, both toddlers and young grade schoolers; all ages can appreciate Teague's artistic accomplishment. While Szekere's ("The Nothing To Do Puppy," and many other books) funny chase story builds an escalating stampede of excitement, it's mostly the pictures that make this a keeper.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Day Gracie Got Away....., June 16, 2001

By	Roz Levine (Virginia) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Gracie is a good little dog who likes a nice quiet house. She never caused a bit of trouble until the day the painters came. The painters drove up in their noisy truck, yelling back and forth to each other, dragging furniture and clanging ladders and Gracie began to bark. She barked and barked, but the painters wouldn't leave. Instead, they put her outside, so that she wouldn't disturb THEM. Gracie saw the open gate and decided to take a little walk all by herself. She had just set off down the street, when she heard someone shout, "Where's Gracie?" and that's when the Great Gracie Chase began..... Cynthia Rylant has written a delightful and vivid story that's full of energy and magic. Her easy to read text is complemented by Mark Teague's bold, bright and expressive artwork that pulls you into the story and let's you join the chase. With each page, the chaos grows larger and busier, until it almost spills off the page. Together, they've authored a charming and humorous book that's perfect for youngsters 3-7. The Great Gracie Chase is a winner and a wonderful addition to all home bookshelves.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here's one to add to your bookcase, April 19, 2001

By	Mark Monsees (Orange, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a treasure that would make a great addition to your child's collection. Gracie is content in her home until painters disrupt her peace and quiet. When she's put outside to stop her barking, she wanders out the gate. Then the chase is on! If you've ever wondered why a dog bolts away and runs down the street, this story may have the answer. While the storyline is fun and imaginative, it is once again Mark Teague's fabulous illustrations that bring the character's to life. Be sure to notice the expression on Gracie's face when she's being ousted from her home, and the way the cat sits on the sidewalk. And the old man at the end looks like a guest appearance from another great book he has illustrated, Sweet Dream Pie. My kids love this one!