I Want 100 Dogs
by Stacy McAnulty (Author) Claire Keane (Illustrator)
In this funny, feel-good first-pet book, one aspiring dog owner and her parents ponder—in wildly imaginative and hilarious detail—all the best and worst outcomes of bringing home more dogs than you can (literally) shake a stick at.
A young girl proclaims, "I want 100 dogs." In a twist, her parents agree, but they have just one question: Where will 100 dogs sleep? Our protagonist revises her request to 90 dogs. But how does one walk 90 dogs? A silly, subtractive counting tale and an over-the-top ode to the joys (and woes) of canine company, this sweet and surprising story proves that no matter how boundless your enthusiasm, when it comes to finding the perfect pet, sometimes less really is more.
Written by bestselling author Stacy McAnulty and illustrated with vintage flair by Claire Keane, this clever and funny picture book will be a new favorite for readers and pet lovers everywhere—whether you have no dogs, one dog, or one dog too many!
PERFECT FIRST-PET BOOK: Bursting with humor and charm, this is the book for any child who has ever longed for a pet (or ten . . . or twenty) and for families gently establishing realistic pet expectations.
FUN AND FUNNY COUNTING BOOK: This fun-to-read picture book delivers the extra benefit of being a reverse counting book! Kids will delight in counting down the number of dogs in this clever tale that subtly demonstrates counting by tens. And, yes, you really can count the dogs on each page!
GIFT-WORTHY: With its sweet, timeless humor and charming, vintage-style illustrations, this pet book makes a wonderful gift for children, teachers, and dog lovers of all ages.
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Kirkus
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2--A curly-haired preschooler with light skin yearns for 100 dogs, while her practical parents talk her through the many ways dogs must be taken care of to temper her aspirations. "Where would 100 dogs sleep?" one asks as readers see a bed overflowingwith dogs. "Okay, then I want 90 dogs." In a reverse counting book, McAnulty brings humor as well as truth to how dogs must be taken care of--from feeding to grooming to training. Keane's illustrations boost the humor in this first-pet tale with telling expressions on the child's and parents' faces. Although there's no shortage of picture books about dogs for the toddler and preschool set, this one's sure to work well as a read-aloud and can also work as a fun supplement to kindergarten math units on counting by 10. VERDICT Recommended for public library collections in need of more humorous dog books and school libraries that could use counting concept books for the youngest students.--Carrie Voliva
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Publishers Weekly
The titular announcement--"I want 100 dogs"--is made by a curly headed, gap-toothed child to their two adults while the three gaze up at clouds that resemble canines. In the following pages, the child conjures up idyllic visions of this arrangement, while the adults manage to both acknowledge the youth's desire and counter with gentle pragmatism: "That sounds fun. But where would 100 dogs sleep?" The child continues the "I want" statements (obligingly decreasing the number of dogs by 10 on each spread), which are accompanied by dual visualizations of each scenario. From the child's perspective, bathing looks like a large swimming pool filled with 80 canines; from an adult's, it's a tiny backyard kiddie pool filled to bursting. Watercolor-and-ink-style digital illustrations from Keane (Make Way) have a lovely, fluid quality and are a hoot to boot, imbuing each wished-for dog with a vivid personality. The battle of wills is further underscored by astute dialogue from McAnulty (The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl), and the final scenes show a happy resolution for all concerned, one that seems to imply the presence of a successful long con. Human characters are portrayed with pink skin. Ages 3-5. Author's agent: Lori Kilkelly, LK Literary. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Oct.)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
"A celebration of canine personalities for dog-loving readers." — Booklist
Stacy McAnulty is a concerned Earthling, a lover of all things science-y, and the author of over thirty books for young humans, including the nonfiction chapter-book Save the People! Thwarting Human Extinction. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, three kids, and three dogs.
David Litchfield is the author-illustrator of the award-winning The Bear and the Piano as well as the illustrator of numerous picture books, including Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years and Ocean! Waves for All by Stacy McAnulty. He lives in Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom.JUV002070 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dogs
JUV009030 - Juvenile Fiction | Concepts | Counting & Numbers
Picture books
Counting
Picture books for children
Parent and child
