The Last Puppy

by Frank Asch

This sweet picture book from Frank Asch teaches the importance of hope and patience through the story of the last puppy of the litter.

Born after his eight brothers and sisters, the ninth and final puppy of the litter worries that all of his brother and sisters that came before him will get to find a home before him too.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Juvenile

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Frank Asch is an American children's writer, best known for his Moonbear picture books.

Asch published his first picture book, George's Store, in 1968. The following year he graduated from Cooper Union with a BFA. Since then he has taught at a public school in India, as well as at a Montessori school in the United States, conducted numerous creative workshops for children. He has written over 60 books, including Turtle Tale, Mooncake, I Can Blink and Happy Birthday Moon. In 1989 he wrote Here Comes the Cat! in collaboration with Vladimir Vagin. The book was awarded the Russian National Book Award and was considered the first Russian-American collaboration on a children's book.

Asch lived in Somerville, New Jersey where he and his wife home-schooled their son Devin.

He currently lives in Vermont with his wife, Jan.

Reviews

[Tarnparit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read this book on TikTok

[Helen Pugsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I read this as a kid. My feels.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read. Really cute ending though 🩷

[ash lee]

i’m gonna k/ms

[Martyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

UROCZEEEEE
tak, zaliczam książkę która ma 30 stron.
to było smutne bez większego powodu i bardzo słodkie <3
(przez zastój czytelniczy to pewnie jedyna książka którą przeczytam w lipcu...)

[annalee ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks, now I’m crying 🥲

[Mariska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this on Instagram, very cute story.

[Citri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not even kidding I would die for this puppy

[JB · Rating 3 out of 5]

2022 read #28

3 stars! This was so sad for no reason 🥲

[Hollie Cooper (EDUC378) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text-to-Self Connection: One of the reasons I chose this book is that it was my childhood favorite. I created a connection to this book before I could even read. I used to make my sister read it to me every night until I was able to read it myself. This was also the first book I ever learned how to read. Part of the reason I loved it so much was because of the ending. It is such a sad story but has a happy ending. this book was the start of my building connections to books and learning to love to read.

[Alexx Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otro cuento bonito, no estoy emocionalmente para leer libros más largos

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally sobbing

[Heather Lei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sweet story from Frank Asch. Simple illustrations support a simple story. A puppy who is always last longs to not be last. It's a real tearjerker in a toddler way. My 4yo makes a sad face at certain points only to give the biggest smile at the twist ending.

Content considerations: It handles the puppies' impending separation from the mommy dog well. There is no angst about it and the protagonist puppy tries really hard to find a new owner out of the people who come to get a puppy. Still, it might not be the best story to read to a child with abandonment issues.

I appreciated the (clean and unreasonably peaceful) birth scene and nursing scene where she effortlessly manages to nurse eight newborns at once. She must have been an experienced breastfeeder or contacted LLL because I was not that skilled with my first birth and I only had one baby. I doubt any child would have a problem with either of these illustrations but I know some parents are a bit more uptight about such things. If that describes you then you should know that I was really tempted to make a joke about the bitch's skills, but refrained. You're welcome. (I apologize for this whole review. My kid wanted me to read this book again for the 4,865th time today and I needed a beer to face it. My filter has malfunctioned.)

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last puppy born in a litter (they appear to be yellow Labs) feels as if he will always be behind in everything, until a family chooses him to be their first-ever puppy.

The super-cartoony depiction of the birth of puppies is a little on the disconcerting side, but it is a sanitized and non-alarming way for parents to introduce this concept to their children, without resorting to the inadvisable choice of allowing the family pet to have unwanted litters--something that was hardly unheard of when this book was published.

[Andrés · Rating 1 out of 5]

I disagree with the premise. How sad that the happy mama with nine puppies had to say goodbye to every one of them. For the first eight pages, I thought this would be a story about the adventures within a doggy family, but in fact it was a story about puppies for sale. Even then, as each of the other 8 puppies was sold to another human owner, I held out hope that the last puppy's happy ending would be to stay with his mama, but he, too, was sold to a little boy. Tear rolling down the face, indeed.

[Jéssica Alves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma leitura rápida, fofa e para qualquer idade.
Eu achei tão fofo e engraçado ele tentando fazer acontecer não ser o último mais uma vez! Fiquei torcendo demais. O final pode arrancar umas lágrimas e é muito gostosinho.

[Amara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story that teaches children that it is okay to always be last, and that one day you will be first.

[carolina]

EU CHOREI TODAS AS LÁGRIMAS DO MUNDO

[alien_aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's just something about children's books that makes you say "aww" and then proceed to tackle that book with a bear hug.

[Ellie Gasca · Rating 4 out of 5]

soy muy feliz leyendo libros infantiles

[Phobean]

Loved a good, sad puppy book when I was a kid.

[sophandherbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have no words. Solid 5/5

[✧˚ ༘Wiktoria⋆｡❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

[Sol Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

q cute

[Dia]

Why do I feel like crying?🥲

[A.G. Gillespie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorites to read to my kids!

[Katie Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both my dogs were “the last puppies” and they have turned into such pivotal members of our family. Never count the last puppies out!

[Andrea Mafara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lindo

[Vernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a gorgeous book on never giving up, even though it seems that life is at odds end. Fantastic book for kiddos. 10/10.

[Mauricio Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and effective blow to the heart, it legit made me cry in 2 minutes.