Sit! Stay! Read!

Chowder

by Peter Brown

When it comes to children’s books, only animal lovers need apply. Or so it seems if one is to browse the shelves of picture books at the local library or bookstore. Animals of all kinds are great protagonists for children’s stories, and when I saw the cover of Chowder I knew I had to meet him.

Summary

Chowder is a handsome bulldog who lives with the Wubbingtons. Unlike other dogs, Chowder seems to have a taste for more stimulating activities - reading the newspaper, smelling the flowers, listening to music. He even uses the toilet. However, his human-esque qualities set him apart from other animals. In fact, he has been told by other dogs that he belongs in a zoo. Poor Chowder is a bit lonely, really.

When Chowder notices a billboard for a petting zoo at the local superstore, he thinks this might be just the place to find some friends. He eagerly devises a way to get the Wubbingtons to the store. Upon his arrival, the zoo animals roll a ball to Chowder, who kicks it so hard it lands in a tree. Before he can so much as apologize, Chowder is swept up by his owners and taken into the store to shop (he usually likes to do these kinds of activities, after all). But Chowder is distressed by the lost ball, and decides he has to get it back to the animals - maybe then they’ll play with him. What ensues is a minor drama that ends in happy friendship.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

As a person with a weakness for dogs who have squashed faces, wrinkled faces, or underbites, I was immediately intrigued by this book. The illustrations were my favorite part. Chowder portrays many emotions so clearly, and I completely loved seeing him laying in a shopping cart, smelling a flower, and dancing to music. I love that Chowder didn’t try to change in order to make friends, and that he found ones who were accepting of his differences. I definitely recommend staying up late with this clever guy!