Boy, Bird, and Dog (I Like to Read) (I Like to Read Books) by David McPhail

I Like to Read

by David McPhail

Boy and Bird can go up to the tree house, but Dog cannot. Boy has an idea. Using a rope and a pot, the boy is able to pull the dog up the tree to a vantage point where the three friends can observe all good things in the world--including Mom bearing a plate of cookies.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Juvenile, Dogs

Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 2011

About the author

David was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts and attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. While there, he began illustrating. He is now an award-winning author and illustrator of nearly 200 books beloved by children, parents and librarians across the United States. McPhail has garnered many prestigious awards, including a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year for Mole Music in 2001. McPhail’s other books include First Flight, which the New York Times praised as “hilarious and helpful”; and Lost!, which was chosen as an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists.

McPhail has four children, three stepchildren, and is a proud grandfather. He is married to Jan Waldron, with whom he has written and illustrated several books. He lives in Rye, New Hampshire.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I was expecting from this new I Like to Read series...they're producing them as picture books rather than "easy readers" so I was wondering if the content would be different too, but it seems like a pretty traditional controlled-vocabulary first reader. It's always nice to find picture books that will be accessible to new readers--I think of those kids who are struggling a bit and must just tense up whenever they are given a book in that familiar easy-reader-rectangle shape. Handing them books like Brown Bear Brown Bear or Boy Bird and Dog might be a way to ease them toward reading in an under-the-radar kind of way.

I do like how the endpapers show the entire setting in a way you don't see in the interior of the book; I think that will help kids with comprehension. And the illustrations are pretty tightly tied to the text, which also helps. (I like the "Hello, Dog; Hello, Bird," interludes; they make me smile.)

[Julia Jasztal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mommy's review from 11/21/11 -


I didn't notice the 'I Like to Read' symbol when I found this at the library so I was pleasantly surprised when we picked it up at home. As another reviewer said, the illustrations are totally in sync with the text which helps a new reader when they may stumble.
The sentences are very simple, think "He got a rope." and "Boy went down." Unless the child you're handing this to is in the early stages of reading they'd probably bore quickly.
My daughter, who is six, was starting to get bored towards the end but this was because the story was so very basic. She's used to much more when she's listening to me read. At the same time she was pleased she was able to get through the book so well.
I also agree with the reviewer who commented on the different size. I like a book this size much better than the past versions of Easy Readers and Level books.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

An early reader in picture book format. Simple, but cute.

[Cosette · Rating 3 out of 5]

"They saw and saw." Its awkward. Not the end of the world. Just ...

[Ro Menendez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple story that would introduce Makerspace and STEM as an activity that solves problems for readers in PK-2nd grade. It also serves as a springboard for a STEM challenge and/or an exploration of pulleys. It is beautifully illustrated and part of the “I Love to Read” Early Readers Series that uses the dimensions of a picture book rather than the easy-to-spot-even-by-young-readers rectangular format that so many shy away from.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

New readers will enjoy following this story, told in simple words.

If you weren't a grownup you wouldn't notice how very short the words are, and how short the sentences.

The story still flows, and as always the illustrations (as well as words) by David McPhail hit the spot.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's super super great

[kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh

[Stefany · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too simple for most of my storytimes, but it's cute.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy, Bird, and Dog (I Like to Read) by David McPhail is a beginning reader in a larger picturebook size format.

A boy meets his bird friend in his treehouse, then finds a way for his dog to join them, by pulling him up in a pot with a rope. The three friends enjoy cookies, also pulled up into the treehouse. Incidentally, the dog and cat seem to be able to talk!

David McPhail celebrates ingenuity, creativity, and friendship in this beginning reader book in a picturebook-sized format. Using 43 words, lots of repetition and very short sentences, McPhail tells a sweet story of three friends.

The ink and watercolor illustrations are fun, and feature lots of facial expressions indicating joy and intelligence among the three friends.

This is the first I Like To Read series book I've read and I look forward to reading more, because I really enjoyed this one.

For ages 3 to 6, friends, birds, dogs, treehouses, and fans of David McPhail.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this text for beginning readers, a boy climbs a ladder into a treehouse where he meets a bird. When his dog wants to join him, he comes up with a way to lift the dog into the tree by using a pot and a rope. He uses the same pulley system to haul up the cookies his mother brings out to him, sharing them with his bird and dog friends. (That's a really big bird, by the way.)One of the aspects of the story that I particularly liked was the fact that the three are shown together, simply enjoying the chance their higher elevation provides for them to look at the world. The ink and watercolor illustrations have a playful quality with the boy's face showing determination as he lifts the dog into the tree and enjoyment as he munches on those cookies.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for beginning readers. The words are simple and there aren't too many to overwhelm. The story is about a little boy in his treehouse. His dog can't get up so he finds a pot and rope, puts the dog in the pot and hoists him up. Then the boy's mom comes out with cookies and puts the cookies in the pot so he can hoist them up too.

Example of the text:
Page 1 - Boy saw Bird. Bird was up.
Page 2 - Boy went up.
Page 3 - "Hello, Boy," said Bird. "Hello, Bird," said Boy.
Page 4 - They saw and saw.
Page 5 - Dog saw Bird and Boy. "I want to go up," said Dog. "But I can't."

[The Library Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am bothered by the fact that these "I Like To Read" books are
going in the picture book section. The format is picture book, but the texts sccream "beinning reader" and I'd rather see them in that clearly recognized format.

This one edges on Dick and Jane-land for the way the text runs. Fortunately though, it's David McPhail and as a result even with the controlled vocabulary this is charming.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great choice for either toddlers or very early readers. Simple words and concept, but still a bit of humor.

Would be good for these Toddler Time themes: friends, birds, dogs. Possibly also moms, cookies, treehouses and ingenuity if you're thinking outside the box.

[Beth Kakuma-Depew · Rating 3 out of 5]

this picture book is part of the same "I Like To Read" series as See Me Run, but I think the vocabulary is a bit harder. It's a simple story about joys of sharing a treehouse with friends. The illustrations remind me of early Maurice Sendack when he was doing Little Bear.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy, a bird, and a dog play in the boy’s treehouse. That’s the entire story. The author uses less than fifty words to tell the tale and that is the charm of this book.

“Boy went down.
He got a rope.
He got a pot.
Dog went in the pot.
Boy went up.
He pulled the rope.
Dog was up.”

[Maureen Milton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This early reader, in picture book format, does just what a teacher/librarian/parent hopes it will. Using charming images that directly support very few words with lots of repetition, "Boy, Bird, and Dog" promises success for the just-emerging reader.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having fun together in a treehouse.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of the recent "I Like to Read" series.
Art: 4
Language: 2
Plot: 3

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the illustrations . . . very genuine and soothing.

[Donalyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A clever boy finds a way to share his treehouse with his dog.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wait, did Maurice Sendak cut that boy's hair?

[Mary Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit basal readerish, but very readable. Just what a beginning ELL needs for independence.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre-K to 1. Very simple and repetitive text. The format is a little larger than your average early reader, and McPhail's illustrations never disappoint.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story for beginning readers.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

very cute animals spend the day with a young boy in a treehouse. simple text for beg readers. big for a beg reader book.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

very simple early reader

[Alberta Medina]

Interest Level: 3-6
Lexile Reading Level:

Share this book with beginning or struggling readers. This picture book uses mostly images for its story telling technique.

[Cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for beginner readers