Slippers does not like naptime. There is too much for a puppy to do instead of sleep. Before he can settle down, he has to collect a few things. One by one he finds Edward's shoe, Laura's cap, and Daddy's work glove-all of which smell like them-and puts them in his little house. When it's time to go for a walk with Mommy, Slippers is too tired. Now, finally, Slippers is ready for naptime. Full of rambunctious play and inimitable personality, Slippers will win over children's hearts as he helps them learn to read.
Slippers the puppy would rather pay attention to interesting smells, sounds, and sights than take a nap.Andrew Clements is the author of such popular novels as Frindle and Things Not Seen.
In Slippers at Home, Clements (Frindle) introduces the chubby hound hero of his new series and owners Mommy, Daddy, Laura and baby Edward-"four people of his very own, and he loves every one of them." Youngsters will quickly be won over by the gusto with which Slippers embraces his daily tasks-and his descriptions of them: "Two times a day, Mommy makes the round sounds. First there is the sound of the big round bowl. Then there is the sound of the nice round can." In Naptime for Slippers, the pooch really does want to take a nap, but the house is so alive with sounds, smells and other stimuli that the pup doesn't finally curl up until the last page. Of course, the canine's appeal is that he's also a kid surrogate, a role Clements addresses with moving empathy and unadorned lyricism. Here, the author describes the dog's nightly walk with Daddy in Slippers at Home: "The world outside the house is so big.... But no matter how far they go, Daddy always finds the way back home." Unfortunately, Bynum's (Altoona Baboona) watercolor-and-ink drawings lack a similar eloquence. Her sense of pacing is spot-on and she captures some standout moments (the postprandial pet stretched out on his pillow, stuffed and content). But Slippers does not quite live up to the personality suggested by the text, and the humans often look stilted. Ages 2-up. (Mar.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
PreS-Gr 2-Slippers is bored, and everyone in his human family is busy. Left to his own devices, the puppy finds an endless array of objects and activities with which to entertain himself, from pulling up things in the garden to burying a shoe. When the baby awakens from his nap, it's time for a nice long walk, but, of course, by this time, Slippers is exhausted and takes a well-earned rest. Bright, full-page watercolor cartoons help to tell the story. Simple and bold text floats across each page, revealing the details of the dog's every move. Slippers's antics and adorable face will appeal to young children.-Christine E. Carr, Lester C. Noecker Elementary School, Roseland, NJ Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
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