My Favorite Picture Books: My Dog and I
Let's take a peek inside the magical world of my favorite books
Good Friday, darlings!
Can you believe we’re halfway through April? This year is flying by and I can’t seem to keep up! Sometimes I feel like I’m running around trying to do 5000 things at once, but not getting anything done. Does anyone else feel that way?
Anyway, today I’d love to share with you another one of my favorite picture books! My Dog and I, written by Luca Tortolini and illustrated by the incredible Felicita Sala, published by Milky Way Picture Books in 2023, is the adorable story of a little girl who has always wanted a dog. (I’ve been there, but now I have 2 and it’s too much. 🙃) And then, one day while walking in the park she discovers one. Not a dog though. A Bear.
She declares the “dog” lost and is determined to take care of this sweet creature and try to find its home. What ensues is both sweet and hilarious. They put up posters all over town asking if anyone has lost a dog, much to the town’s dismay.
Including this poor lady, who will not have her delicious coffee to help comfort her after a frightening morning.
Since nobody comes to declare the dog, she decides it has no home, and therefore now belongs to her! And she discovers having a dog is a great and helpful thing! Especially since the town bullies no longer pick on her.
But one day her dog goes missing! She can’t find him anywhere and wails, “I’ve lost my dog! I’ve lost my dog!” (Perhaps she wants one of mine??) But no worries, because soon she finds….
a cat.
I won’t give any more spoilers away. Let’s just say it ends happily and hilariously.
I originally got this book from the library and loved it so much I had to have my own copy. Felicita Sala has been a favorite illustrator of mine for quite some time. I love her use of color and her mark makings. She has so much texture and her illustrations are full of life! I plan to share another book of hers that she author-illustrated later on.
Don’t you want to go for a walk here? And let’s take a peak under the jacket for a special cover. You know those are my favorite!
Hello, bear! Or dog?
My favorite picture books are those that have humor and a lot of heart. Not laugh-out-loud funny, necessarily. My kids love those! But the ones that give you a little chuckle and leave you thinking about it long after you’re done reading. This book did exactly that for me. In 394 words (at least that’s the number I counted to) Luca Tortolini told this heartfelt story of a little girl who just wanted a dog, and became a caretaker to a wild animal in need of a home. And Felicita added extra layers of story and humor through her incredible illustrations. Gah! I love it!
Have you read this book? Do you have examples of books with a dash of humor and a lot of heart? I’m always looking for more picture books to read and fall in love with! I have a goal to read 50 this year, and so far I’m at 36! (Although, if I’m being honest, I’m really shooting for 100.)
I hope you have a lovely weekend, my friends!
xo,
Katie