Sally Goes to the Beach (Hardcover)

~ Stephen Huneck (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Something is happening--black Lab Sally can feel it in the air. When she sees the suitcase, she knows it for sure--she and her human companion (who appears only as an arm or pair of feet now and then) are going on vacation! Soon they're off to an island in the ocean. Along the way, Sally sees birds, boats, lots of other dogs, and even a whale. At the beach, Sally explores and plays. "The air smells great, just like cat food!"

This simple tale of a holiday adventure is perfect for any child planning--or reminiscing about--a trip to the shore. Stephen Huneck's text is a quiet tribute to the magic of a sunny day in the sand and surf. But the indisputable wonder of this book is the artwork. Internationally known artist Huneck created every woodcut print by hand, drawing the design in crayon, then carving one block of wood for each color in the appropriate shape. The result is a stunning collection of brightly colored woodcut prints showing spry Sally diving in the ocean, riding boats, and digging holes in the sand. As in his clever My Dog's Brain, Huneck modeled Sally after his very own Labrador retriever, also named Sally. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

Understated humor infuses both the text and handsome woodcut prints in this painter and sculptor's debut children's book. Imparting a contemporary folk-art sensibility, Huneck's prints draw from a deep, sophisticated palette dominated by an appealing array of blues and greens. In short, staccato sentences, narrator Sally, a black Lab, chronicles her vacation to "an island in the ocean." Her dog's-eye commentary ranges from the mundane ("The sky is blue, and the sun is hot") to the droll (as when she observes, at the beach, that "the air smells great, just like cat food!"). Huneck knows how to juxtapose art and text for comic effect: on the ferry to the island, Sally cannot see the captain, "but I can imagine what he looks like"; the accompanying print shows a black Lab at a ship's wheel, wearing a sailor's cap and sunglasses. Later, the beachcombing dog is pictured with first a crab and then a starfish pinching her nose as she concedes, "I realize right away, I still have a lot to learn." Huneck slyly keeps Sally's human owner in the background, only revealing an appendage from time to time. Sally is front and center, and deservedly soAshe's one endearing pooch. Ages 4-8. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 38 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 1 edition (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810941864
• ISBN-13: 978-0810941861
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 11.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #350,496 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovable Labs, August 7, 2000

By A Customer

I purchased this book for my toddler after learning about Stephen Huneck and his art work. It's adorable! This is now my daughter's favorite book. Especially, since we happen to have a black Labrador who looks like "Sally" and acts like "Sally." This book is illustrated very simply with bright colors and simple text that make it a quick read. Overall, a great story about a cute black Lab that goes on a trip to the beach.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read!, May 23, 2001

By	Dr. J "virginiagal13" (Mid-Atlantic Region United States) - See all my reviews

I thought this book would be fun for my son since we have a black lab, but I underestimated how much I would enjoy it too! The illustrations are incredible and the text is witty and really seems to show life from a dog's point of view! Highly recommend particularly if you have or like dogs!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stephen Huneck...great artist, good author, April 6, 2000

By	Johnny boy (Boston Ma) - See all my reviews

Stephen Huneck has done it again. Not only are the illustrations outstanding but the book held my childs attention for the entire book (not an easy thing to do). I would recommend this book to any Huneck fans or to anyone who just likes Labs.