Review by Booklist Review
While on vacation with her family, Suzy, a dalmatian, decides she loves her new skull-and-crossbones bandanna so much that she needs a persona to match. And so she becomes Poppy the Pirate Dog. Though Poppy dreams of adventures on the high seas, in reality, a fishing-boat jaunt leaves her feeling wet and wobbly. Short voyages on a seal-spotting boat, a pedal boat, and a speed boat don't suit her, either. Dejected, she wonders if she is a pirate dog. Finally, her sympathetic family finds just the right vessel to enjoy with Poppy. Best known for writing the Emily Windsnap series, Kessler offers an amusing tale for readers who are beyond the beginning stage but not quite ready for full-length chapter books. With its good pacing and appealing artwork, the episodic story also works well as a read-aloud choice. Phillips, who clearly understands canine body language, contributes a series of expressive ink-and-watercolor illustrations that brighten the pages while heightening the humor. Engaging fare for young readers.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Kessler (the Emily Windsnap series) ventures into early chapter books with a chipper story about a would-be seafaring Dalmatian. Poppy is excited about spending a week at the seaside with her humans-and proud of her new neckerchief featuring a skull-and-crossbones pattern ("Don't mess with me, she thought. I'm a pirate dog"). The family's boat-centric vacation agenda seems well suited to Poppy's new life as a pirate, until she discovers that bobbing vessels, splashing waves, and seals that resemble sea monsters aren't at all to her liking ("Poppy wasn't feeling very much like a pirate dog anymore"). The narrative slips in and out of Poppy's mind to humorous effect, easily capturing her alternating bravado and timidity. Recalling Quentin Blake's work, Phillips's ink-and-watercolor illustrations fill in the narrative's blanks and flesh out Poppy's persona (one moment Poppy is strutting proudly down the boardwalk with a look of roguish determination in her eye; the next, she's cowering under a berth on a boat). Punchy dialogue and ample artwork nicely gear this to recent picture book graduates. Ages 5-9. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-This is a sweet story about a Dalmatian named Poppy and her seaside vacation with her family. Divided into small chapters, the tale starts with Poppy getting a pirate scarf at a local shop. Once it is tied around her neck, she takes on the demeanor of her inner pirate and begins searching for the perfect vessel. As their vacation unfolds, Mom, Dad, and the kids enjoy a fishing excursion, pedal boats, speedboats, and even a boat that spots "sea monsters," none of which suit the pup. It is only when her humans do a bit of research that they come up with the ideal way to spend their last day. "We've found Poppy's perfect pirate ship! It's exactly the right size, it's not too fast, and there are no big scary sea monsters." Phillips's playful illustrations rendered in ink and watercolors provide strong context for assistance with word recognition, comprehension, and fluency. In the same vein as Cynthia Rylant's "Henry and Mudge" books (S & S), this well-crafted title is sure to be a hit with early readers.-Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Dalmatian Poppy becomes a pirate dog when she gets a skull and crossbones bandana on a seaside vacation. But none of the boats the family encounters make the right pirate ship. Poppy finally finds one: "exactly the right size, it's not too fast, and there are no big scary sea monsters." Phillips's expressive, loose ink-and-watercolor illustrations outshine the simplistic plot. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A family takes a seaside vacation with their Dalmatian, Poppy, who knows all about pirates from listening to books read by her young owner, Tim. When the friendly dog chooses a skull-and-crossbones bandanna for herself, the family dubs her Poppy the Pirate Dog. They decide to take Poppy on a different sort of boat ride each day, but the dog has issues with all the boats: too fast, too slippery or too scary (the seals must be sea monsters!). The family keeps trying to find a pirate ship for Poppy, finally finding an old, red tugboat that suits persnickety Poppy perfectly, and they all enjoy a ride together with a pirate flag flying. Poppy is an appealing pooch, but there isn't much conflict or drama here, nor any pirate talk or swashbuckling adventure. The text is divided into short chapters, with a large font and lots of white space around the text blocks to assist new readers. Illustrations in watercolor and ink provide an amusing personality for Poppy as she resists all the different boat rides and eventually feels like a big, brave dog. An adequate tale with the pull of pirates and pups, but alas, me hearties, no buried treasure here. (Early reader. 6-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
