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Just Like Floss
When Floss the sheepdog has puppies, the farmers says his children can keep one to help with the work on the farm. But which puppy should they choose? Bess, Nell, Cap, Jack and little Sam - all of them are adorable. But only one is just like Floss.
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First published November 4, 1998
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About the author
Kim Lewis
46 books13 followersKim Lewis is an author and illustrator of children’s picture books.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 27, 2016
Just Like Floss is one is a series of picture books for young children by Kim Lewis. Kim Lewis is the author and illustrator of more than twenty children’s picture books, many of which are set around the working sheep farm in Northumberland where she lives.
This one is my favourite so far, a lovely early story from 1998. Floss, the sheepdog, has a litter of five border collie puppies, and the farmer promises his children that they can keep one to help with the work on the farm. The children give the puppies names: Bess, Nell, Cap, Jack and the very smallest, Sam, who sticks very closely to Floss. They watch carefully over the next few weeks to see which would make the best farm dog. "'What does Floss tell Sam?' the children ask."
Of course the best choice proves to be brave little Sam. Even though he is so tiny that he can't get his footing properly in the snow, he shows his mettle. Surrounded by sheep with their hot breath, "big woolly shapes with their hard black heads and horns", he crouches low, staring boldly, and showing no fear, calmly faces off an old ewe.
"Big Brave Sam!" The farmer and children all agree that a puppy who learns from his mother and also stands up for himself, will be just like Floss. They decide to keep him and "find good homes for all the others".
The author, Kim Lewis, shows a keen eye for animal behaviour, as she does with all her books, and the descriptions are accurate and authentic. There is a certain amount of anthropomorphising, which is to be expected in a book for young children, but this is always realistic. She perfectly conveys both the intelligence of the border collie, and the mutual trust and partnership between shepherd and sheepdog.
The illustrations are quite beautiful; delicate portraits drawn in pastel shades, the colour applied in small movements so as to increase the light in the pictures. Both the deep, snowy, winter weather and the warmth of the barn are perfectly evoked. Kim Lewis shows an intimate knowledge of the rural landscape of Northumberland.
Just Like Floss is a superb children's picture book. As with all Kim Lewis's book, it consists of attractive, gentle but realistic depictions of the natural world the author knows so well. All her books are concerned to a degree with the routine of each day on a working farm, the cycle of life, and the changing seasons of the countryside. They mostly have a "feel-good" factor, and a little moral lesson. This is no exception. The books capture an image of a traditional world which, for all its charm, is still a way of life for some, and not yet lost. And despite their specific and regional focus, they are known world-wide and have been translated into several languages.
This one is my favourite so far, a lovely early story from 1998. Floss, the sheepdog, has a litter of five border collie puppies, and the farmer promises his children that they can keep one to help with the work on the farm. The children give the puppies names: Bess, Nell, Cap, Jack and the very smallest, Sam, who sticks very closely to Floss. They watch carefully over the next few weeks to see which would make the best farm dog. "'What does Floss tell Sam?' the children ask."
Of course the best choice proves to be brave little Sam. Even though he is so tiny that he can't get his footing properly in the snow, he shows his mettle. Surrounded by sheep with their hot breath, "big woolly shapes with their hard black heads and horns", he crouches low, staring boldly, and showing no fear, calmly faces off an old ewe.
"Big Brave Sam!" The farmer and children all agree that a puppy who learns from his mother and also stands up for himself, will be just like Floss. They decide to keep him and "find good homes for all the others".
The author, Kim Lewis, shows a keen eye for animal behaviour, as she does with all her books, and the descriptions are accurate and authentic. There is a certain amount of anthropomorphising, which is to be expected in a book for young children, but this is always realistic. She perfectly conveys both the intelligence of the border collie, and the mutual trust and partnership between shepherd and sheepdog.
The illustrations are quite beautiful; delicate portraits drawn in pastel shades, the colour applied in small movements so as to increase the light in the pictures. Both the deep, snowy, winter weather and the warmth of the barn are perfectly evoked. Kim Lewis shows an intimate knowledge of the rural landscape of Northumberland.
Just Like Floss is a superb children's picture book. As with all Kim Lewis's book, it consists of attractive, gentle but realistic depictions of the natural world the author knows so well. All her books are concerned to a degree with the routine of each day on a working farm, the cycle of life, and the changing seasons of the countryside. They mostly have a "feel-good" factor, and a little moral lesson. This is no exception. The books capture an image of a traditional world which, for all its charm, is still a way of life for some, and not yet lost. And despite their specific and regional focus, they are known world-wide and have been translated into several languages.
October 10, 2017
The story isn't very big one. Basically a dog has puppies, and the owners try to figure out which of them to keep, and which to find new homes for. The dogs aren't of the talking kind, nor are they terribly comic either.
But it's a lovely book just the same. What Kim Lewis does, is to present a very realistic picture of the relationship between dogs and their owners on a farm. The artwork is beautiful. So I think anyone that would like a book about Collies on a farm could do worse than read this one.
But it's a lovely book just the same. What Kim Lewis does, is to present a very realistic picture of the relationship between dogs and their owners on a farm. The artwork is beautiful. So I think anyone that would like a book about Collies on a farm could do worse than read this one.
November 18, 2025
Floss that led to my dog being called Floss
January 15, 2012
Kim Lewis’s book ‘Just like floss’ is a must read for children aged four to five, so for any of you who want to teach reception, this is an excellent book for story time. I would highly recommend it! It is a story about a border collie ‘Floss’ who has just given birth to five beautiful puppies on a wonderful countryside farm. The children are very excited and beg their father to keep one to help with the work on the farm. Their father insists they need to pick one ‘just like floss’! But which one should they choose? Their decision is based on which puppy shows bravery when faced with the confrontation of a sheep on the farm. Is it Bess, Nell, Cap, Jack or Sam? The rest are found perfect good homes. This is a story line that every child would enjoy and for any dog lovers. I particularly enjoyed it as it brought back some lovely memories of my own childhood, coming from a farming background in Ireland. The illustrations are very appealing and when looking at them you instantly feel the heart of the stunning countryside! This would be good to show children from the city, as for some of them, they may have never experienced life in the countryside and it shows them what life on a farm would be like. The pictures also show the warmth connection between the animals and the humans. It is a must read!
March 24, 2011
the art is perfect. Kim Lewis may be the best dog artist i've seen. The hardest thing for an artist to draw is their eyes and expressions - Lewis is brilliant!
The story is also v.well written
This is my current favorite dog book
The story is also v.well written
This is my current favorite dog book
October 3, 2011
Lovely, realistic illustrations of farm life and dogs.
September 9, 2012
Just as cute as Floss. Sweet story. Loved by the intended age group/audience.
September 5, 2020
Absolutely love the illustrations in this book. They are hand drawn but are so detailed and the warm colours are visually appealing. The text is large so is easy to read by children if they follow along with an adult.
April 27, 2018
super predictable in that the weird dog is the one they keep, but i like that the dog is kept for its natural sheep herding skills.
April 9, 2021
Great second book to Floss. Lewis has a great story that children relate to with illustrations that add to the story.
September 29, 2025
Cute kids book. Pictures were detailed and very pretty.
October 18, 2014
When we lived in England we enjoyed reading about Floss the sheep dog after seeing border collies actually herding sheep or at sheep dog trials. This book, about puppies born to the dog Floss is very nice too -- has a little twist at the end and great, active illustrations of the puppies.
February 19, 2025
Floss, the sheep-herding farm dog, had five puppies. The children’s dad said they could keep the one that will work best with Floss. There is one little puppy that soon proves itself to be much like its mother. Delightful story with fabulous illustrations.
November 13, 2014
Would be a good book to discuss life on the farm and animals! Great illustrations!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews