Once I Ate a Pie »

Patricia MacLachlan is the celebrated author of many beloved books for young readers, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal. Her picture books include Who Loves Me?, Three Names, What You Know First, and All the Places to Love. She lives with her husband and two border terriers in Williamsburg, Massachusetts.

It's a dog's life!

Every dog has a tail to wag . . . and a tale to tell. Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest asked a collection of canines to speak up—and so they do, in words, barks, and yips. Captured here are accounts of happy days filled with squeaky toys, good smells, plenty of naps, and the very important jobs they do for the people they love to love.

Sally J. K. Davies - Children's Literature

All three creators of this book share their boundless love of dogs with the reader. Both the words and the pictures are really in tune with dogs' lives and they highlight some of the wildly different personality types that dogs display. The particular dog named in the title of the poem narrates each poem. The first poem is titled, "Puppy," and most children will empathize with the puppy's vision of the world. "Trees too tall. Sky too HIGH. Snow over my head. What if I get lost?" The word "tall" stretches out to show the idea of height. The word "HIGH" floats up in a curve over the sentence. The little puppy stares at the reader. Around him, muddy, puppy footprints smudge around the page and onto the opposite page where the poem appears. Schneider's illustrations are gorgeous and show a true love of dogs. Glistening, jewel-like puppy eyes stare out at the reader, and the soft brushwork captures the soft texture of a puppy's fur. All the poems are a joy to read with well thought out typography and page design. Mr. Beefy, the bulldog, likes to steal pies and other tempting food from his owner's table. The illustration to accompany this poem shows a bulldog sitting lazily next to an upturned pie tray. Gus, the German Sheppard, likes to herd his people. Lucy, the beagle, nestles between her owners in their bed. Needle Nose is always opening things like refrigerators, pillows, and dog-cookie boxes. He can even open the mail with his nose. Tillie and Maude look alike but are opposites in behavior and temperament. Luke, the old dog and the last poem in the book, only wants to rest and dream. 2006, HarperCollins Children's Books, Ages 4 to 8.