HOME SCHOOL BOOK REVIEW
Book: The Poky Little Puppy’s First Christmas
Author: Justine Korman
Illustrator: Jean Chandler
Publisher: Golden Books, 2002
ISBN-13: 978-0307960344
ISBN-10: 030796034X
Language level: 1
(1=nothing objectionable; 2=common euphemisms and/or childish slang terms; 3=some cursing or profanity; 4=a lot of cursing or profanity; 5=obscenity and/or vulgarity)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Rating: 5 stars (EXCELLENT)
Reviewed by Wayne S. Walker
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Korman, Justine. The Poky Little Puppy’s First Christmas (published in 2002 by Golden Books). The Poky Little Puppy, who had to go to bed without any strawberry shortcake, was first introduced by author Janette Sebring Lowrey with illustrations by Gustaf Tenggren. It was one of the original twelve Little Golden Books that were launched in October of 1942, and has sold nearly fifteen million copies since then, making it one of the most popular children’s books of all time. Several years later, Golden Books decided to add some other Poky Little Puppy books to its catalogue using different authors and illustrators.
It is the Poky Little Puppy’s first Christmas, and he is not quite sure what to expect. When he meets an animal friend who has lost his home, Poky is quick to help and in the process learns all about the spirit of Christmas. It is cute to see what trouble The Poky Little Puppy and the other puppies get into while trying to have a good Christmas. This wonderfully written, adorably illustrated book teaches a great big lesson about the joy of selfless acts and will leave any child or adult who reads it with a wonderful, warm feeling. Other similar books include The Poky Little Puppy’s Wonderful Winter Day (1982) and Poky Little Puppy and the Patchwork Blanket (1984) both by Jean Chandler, and The Poky Little Puppy Comes to Sesame Street (1999) by Anna H. Dickson and Tom Brannon.
