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Silly Doggy!

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One day, Lily saw something WONDERFUL in her garden. It had four legs, a tail, and a big, wet nose...

and Lily had ALWAYS wanted one!

34 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2011

2 people are currently reading
199 people want to read

About the author

Adam Stower

130 books34 followers
Adam completed a BA in Illustration at Norwich and an MA in Narrative Illustration at Brighton where he now lives and works. Adam is now represented by Arena agency.

Adam has a passion for drawing and a great love of traditional illustration. He specialises in fiction for children, editorial, character development and product design.

from http://www.worldofadam.com/main.htm

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5 stars
270 (43%)
4 stars
247 (39%)
3 stars
96 (15%)
2 stars
10 (1%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
Profile Image for babyhippoface.
2,443 reviews144 followers
April 27, 2012
First thought: "That is the cutest little girl I have ever seen."

Second thought: "That is the cutest doggy bear I have ever seen."

This book is adorable. Seriously. Supremely cute without being overly cute.

Lily looks out her window one morning to see a big, brown, fuzzy doggy in her backyard. She is thrilled. She's always wanted a doggy. So Lily ties her scarf around the doggy's neck as a leash and spends the day playing with him.

He's such a silly doggy, and Lily loves him. The doggy seems to enjoy being with Lily, too, but Mom (who is busy in the kitchen and doesn't even turn around) tells Lily that someone surely lost that doggy and wants him back, so no, she can't keep him.

Lily makes a wonderful FOUND poster and posts it on a pole, secretly hoping no one will see it. But of course, someone does, and Lily is left alone and sad, without Doggy. But her sadness doesn't last long....

Something I didn't even notice during my first hasty read-through was the end papers, but they are integral to the story. The end papers tip the reader off before the story even begins with a headline about the local zoo finding a hole in the fence and the announcement that several animals have escaped. I found this touch to be just right. There's no reader distraction, wondering how in the world a bear ended up in Lily's yard. We already know, thanks to those end papers. Very clever, Adam Stower. The closing end papers are just as clever. Well played, sir.

I read this to Kindergarten classes today. Kids loved the surprise ending. I loved the surprise ending. I don't think there's anything about this book that I didn't like. Satisfying all around.
Profile Image for Francesca Lee.
237 reviews3 followers
November 3, 2019
A humourus story about a girl mistaking a bear for a dog in her garden. The girl believes the bear is a dog because she associates it as having the same characteristics. The girl tries to get it to do tricks but it refuses, however she still really likes this ‘dog’. She puts up a poster for it to be found and a zoo keeper comes to collect it. By the end of the story the girl still thinks the bear is a dog.
Profile Image for Rebecca Morris.
45 reviews4 followers
October 14, 2019
Funny picture book of a young girl, Lily, who mistakes a big bear in her garden as a pet dog she has always wanted. Lovely illustrations that work very well alongside the story.
Profile Image for Douglas Beagley.
782 reviews16 followers
February 10, 2018
Good art, whimsical idea, fun! It has the "incredibly cute little girl having feelings is going to entertain you" problem, but otherwise a perfect, simple kids book.
Profile Image for Tapani Aulu.
4,265 reviews18 followers
April 25, 2021
Pikkutyttö löytää "koiran" pihaltaan ja haluaa siitä tietysti kaverin. Paitsi että koira onkin karhu.
380 reviews
February 9, 2019
Lily saw a large, orange furry “dog” in the garden one day. She believed that it was a large dog and took care of him. Later the owner of the “dog” visited her house to pick him up. It was not a dog but a bear.
Children’s innocent perspectives were well described in this book. For instance, Lily thought he was a dog no matter the large size and paws of the bear. She just thought he was a silly doggy who did not eat dog food but searched the refrigerator for food. Moreover, I like the style of storytelling which started from the front end page to the back end page of the book. The end pages provided additional information and backgrounds of the story. That is, the end pages help readers to understand the contexts of the story.
Profile Image for 78sunny.
2,338 reviews41 followers
April 22, 2013
German Version:
"Dummer Schnuffi" ISBN: 978-3-468-21026-6
4,6 von 5 Sternen
*Inhalt:*
Die kleine Lily findet in ihrem Garten einen sehr großen Hund, zumindest glaubt sie es sei ein Hund. Eigentlich ist es aber ein Bär und das macht es natürlich nicht gerade einfach, dass Lily ihn gern behalten möchte.

*Wie kam das Buch zu mir*
Dieses Buch bekam ich über Lovelybooks für das Leseabenteuer – eine Leserunde. Ich nehme solche Bücher ja immer gern mit auf Arbeit (stationäre Jugendhilfeeinrichtung), da wir nur sehr wenig Bücher für unsere Knirpse habe.

*Aufmachung/Qualität*
Die Aufmachung ist spitze. Der Schutzumschlag ist gleichzeitig ein großes Poster. Das Buch an sich ist hochwertig verarbeitet und die Illustrationen sind super süß.

*Meinung:*
Meinung als Erwachsener/Pädagoge: (3,5/5)
Die Zeichnungen sind sehr schön und niedlich. Jeder Erwachsene wird dahinschmelzen. Inhaltlich bin ich allerdings weniger begeistert gewesen. Die Geschichte ist sehr unrealistisch, was ja grundsätzlich völlig in Ordnung ist für ein Kinderbuch, aber selbst unseren Kindern fiel das auf. Die Zeichnungen waren unterschiedlich groß. Manche zogen sich über eine komplette Seite und auf der freien Seite standen dann ein, zwei Zeilen Text. Platztechnisch hätte man hier deutlich mehr nutzen können. Mein größtes Problem mit dem Buch war vor allem, dass es schwer war die Geschichte an sich vorzulesen, da es nicht nur fließenden Text gab, sondern auch Sprechblasen. Diese waren dann schwierig beim vorlesen einzubauen. Am Ende habe ich dann einfach nur noch erklärt was auf den Bildern war und das gefiel den Kindern am besten. Ein weiterer Punkt, der mich etwas gestört hat, war das Ende. Pädagogisch wertvoll würde ich das nicht nennen, da am Ende einfach ein 'Freund' durch einen anderen ersetzt wird. Da das Buch für 3 Jährige konzipiert sein soll, werde ich das mal so hinnehmen. Alles in allem ist es ein schönes Bilderbuch, dass allerdings besser nur mit fließendem Text oder nur mit Sprechblasen ausgestattet sein sollte. Zum einfachen durchblättern und erklären der Bilder war es aber gut geeignet. Das 3 Jährige die Geschichte tatsächlich verstehen, bezweifle ich.

Meinung eines 2 ¾ jährigen Mädchens: (4,5/5)
Sie verstand kaum etwas von der Geschichte, aber sie schaute sich gern die Bilder an und wurde animiert nachzufragen und nachzusprechen. Die Zeichnungen gefielen ihr sehr gut und sie musste lachen.

Meinung eines 5 jährigen Mädchens: (2/5)
Ihr gefiel die Geschichte nicht so gut. Bei bestimmten Szenen hatte sie Verständnisprobleme und erklärte immer wieder, dass dies oder das doch gar nicht so sein kann. Gerade hier fiel auf, dass es schwierig war den Sprechblasen-Text mit einzubauen. Es kamen mehrfach nachfragen, weil es nicht verständlich war, was gerade vermittelt werden sollte. Richtige Begeisterung kam bei ihr nicht auf, obwohl sie sonst fast jede Geschichte liebt und hundert mal hören möchte.

Meinung eines 6 jährigen Jungen: (5/5)
Hier war schon mehr Begeisterung zu sehen. Er lachte bei den Sprechblasen-Szenen und man merkte deutlich, dass es den Hintergrund verstand. Er äußerte mehrfach (auch an den folgenden Tagen) die Geschichte noch einmal hören zu wollen.

Meinung eines 12 jährigen Mädchens: (5+/5)
So und hier kommt nun die heiße Verfechterin dieses Buches, die mich davon überzeugte dem Buch doch bitte 5 Sterne zu geben. Sie liebte dieses Buch. Sie verstand natürlich die gesamte Geschichte, da sie 12 Jahre alt ist und mochte sogar das Ende, was ich persönlich ja nicht gut fand. „Ist doch witzig“ wurde ich aufgeklärt. Die Zeichnungen fand sie super süß und malte diese sogar nach.

So und nun stehe ich also da und muss hier Sterne vergeben. Bei der Zielgruppe ist das Buch bei meinen Versuchen eher nicht so angekommen oder zumindest nicht so das es was mit der Geschichte zu tun hätte. Das die Zeichnungen wunderschön sind, darüber waren wir uns ja alle einig. Wie oben schon erwähnt, bin ich der Meinung, dass 3 Jährige die Geschichte nicht erfassen können, aber durchaus die Bilder schön finden können und genug gefesselt von ihnen sind, um dem Vorleser zuzuhören. Unsere Kinder sind meist sprachlich etwas entwicklungsverzögert, aber ansonsten altersgerecht entwickelt. Daran sollten die Verständnisprobleme also nicht liegen.
Kurz zuvor hatten wir ja gerade „Die Tuschelmuscheln“ von Christian Noß gelesen und ich muss sagen, dass mir dieses Buch deutlich mehr gefallen hat und auch bei allen Kindern super ankam. Daher hätte ich diesem Buch eigentlich eher 4 Sterne gegeben, aber da unsere 12 Jährige so für das Buch in die Presche gesprungen ist, beuge ich mich ihrem Urteil. Bei der Altersempfehlung wäre ich aber eher vorsichtig. Ich würde es eher ab 4 oder 5 empfehlen.

Zeichnungen 5+/5
päd. Wertvoll 2/5
Geschichte 4/5
Aufbau/Lesefluss 2/5


*Fazit:*
4,6 von 5 Sternen
Grundsätzlich ist dies ein schönes Kinderbuch, aber der Textaufbau machte die Vermittlung der Geschichte schwierig. Als pädagogisch wertvoll würde ich das Buch nicht bezeichnen, aber es regt zum Betrachten der Bilder an und zum Nachfragen der Kinder. Eine Interaktion zwischen Kind und Leser wird daher angeregt, was ja auch positiv genutzt werden kann. Ich persönlich hätte dem Buch keine so hohe Wertung gegeben, aber ich habe mich hier der Kindermeinung gebeugt.
Die Zeichnungen sind allerdings eine wahre Augenweide und somit ist das Buch auch etwas für Erwachsene, die Bilderbücher sammeln.

40 reviews
April 18, 2024
This is a book about a little girl that has always wanted a dog and one day she found one! Although, it is not really a dog. She goes about taking care of the dog and making a poster to say that she had found someones dog, she hoped nobody would come pick up her doggy but someone did. The little girl then found a kitty! I would read this for a brain break or a dun story time.
Profile Image for Deb.
1,587 reviews21 followers
October 28, 2017
This is a fun book with cute illustrations. My only caution would be to remind children not to approach strange animals who may appear in their backyard. It's also good to teach them the difference between fantasy and reality.
Profile Image for Becky.
Author 2 books50 followers
February 26, 2019
Great illustrations! A delightful story of a little girl's imagination and her "new pet".
Profile Image for Thomas Bell.
1,910 reviews18 followers
May 23, 2022
After the first few pages, I was not planning on being impressed. However, I really did like this. Very cute!
Profile Image for Imke Barry.
6 reviews
March 30, 2023
We have read this book now, per request, every evening this week. Target audience approved!
Profile Image for Hannah.
283 reviews7 followers
March 17, 2025
just OK. i think young kids would enjoy the silliness of it. but I have other options for "pet bear" story time books.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
5,007 reviews60 followers
March 26, 2019
This book is fun and silly and a great read-aloud. (Although it is a bit long for a group story time). Perfect to read together and laugh with a preschooler.
Profile Image for Whole And.
979 reviews6 followers
February 20, 2017
A very funny tale of a little girl who finds animals in her backyard that she assumes are a doggy and a kitty until they must be returned to the zoo. What animals are there and how does it go with the little girl? Belly laugh all the way through the book and find out.
33 reviews
Read
February 14, 2015
In the book, Silly Doggy!, Lily finds a new friend in her backyard. She always wanted a pet but never got her way. This time she was determined to keep her "doggy". This is a good read for ages 6-7 because of the creativity and placement of the words on the pages. The sentences go right along with the pictures. This is a good way for children to learn about following along with the sentence structure and the pictures.
The plot structure is great because most children can relate to wanting a pet and not always getting your way. Children cannot always get what they want, which is a lesson that is needed to grow up and move on in life. Lily's mother wanted her 'doggy' to be found even though secretly Lily did not want to say goodbye. The story gives a good message about not always having what you want. However the story ends with a light hearted joke that now gives Lily another new pet "kitty". I believe to create a good experience with children reading, you should choose books that are easily relatable and can cause provoking thoughts about how to handle similar situations and become a better person afterwards.
Profile Image for Vernon Area Public Library KIDS.
931 reviews43 followers
July 2, 2016
Due to a gaping hole in the fence, the local zoo animals have escaped! A bear in particular has found his way into little Lily’s backyard. Confused over this wild animal’s true identity, Lily is thrilled to have a new pet who she names “doggy.” By tying her long, striped scarf around his neck to use as a leash, Lily happily goes about her day with her companion, although she is surprised by some of his moods (grumpy growls), inability to do any tricks, and raiding the fridge. But who is this silly doggy’s owner? Concerned that someone has lost their pet, Lily makes a flyer to post in the neighborhood: “Found! One very silly doggy!” When the zoo keeper pays a visit to Lily’s home to bring “doggy” back to his rightful place, Lily still dreams of having a pet of her own. A surprise ending leads us to Stower’s next book: “Naughty Kitty!” (an escaped tiger).

Young children will love Lily’s fearlessness, have a chuckle over her mistake of confusing a bear with a dog, and will enjoy the author’s bright, expressive illustrations.

Recommended for preschool thru grade 2.

Reviewed by: Alyson D., Youth Services, Vernon Area Public Library
Profile Image for Jess Farabaugh.
41 reviews2 followers
Read
December 16, 2014
Silly Doggy by Adam Stower is a humorous book for children ages 3 through 5 years old. This book is about a little girl named Lily and her new pet. When Lily looks out her bedroom window believes that she has found a lost loveable puppy, when in reality it is actually a lost and loveable very large bear. Lily and her Doggy become very best friends. Doggy is not like most dogs, he doesn’t eat his food, he cant do tricks and he does do anything Lilly tells him to do, but she still loves him. After spending a wonderful day together Lily’s mom tells her that she needs to find the lost dogs home. Lily creates a found dog poster about their wonderful day together. Sadly someone came to claim Doggy and Lily missed him very much, but you will never guess what she found in the garden the next morning! This is a great book for young readers in the classroom. It is a fun humorous way to get children involved with reading and listening.
Profile Image for Baby Bookworm.
1,642 reviews109 followers
March 25, 2022
https://thebabybookwormblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/06/silly-doggy-adam-stower/

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Summer Reading Day 31: Today’s book was Silly Doggy! by Adam Stower, and it was a fun read! It’s about a little girl who finds a rather strange stray dog in her garden and decides to try and find its owners – not realizing that the “silly doggy” is, in fact, a bear. The story is sweet and silly, and the illustrations are adorable, plus the ending has a fun twist. JJ loved it, so we definitely recommend it.

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews

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