Pizza for Sam

by Mary Labatt, Marisol Sarrazin (illustrator)

Sam discovers that people food tastes better than puppy food! This Level 1 first reader contains short stories, simple sentences, easy vocabulary, simple visual clues and lots of repetition.

Genres: Dogs, Childrens, Food, Epic, Picture Books, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Mary Labatt is an award-winning editor and a writer. A graduate of York University, Mary has published many educational briefs, position papers and articles on reading, the effects of poverty on learning, drug awareness, language arts, violence, the needs of adolescents and special education. Mary was the founding editor of the FWTAO Newsletter, a magazine for women teachers, that she edited for 14 years. She is also the author of a history of women teachers in Ontario, called Always a Journey. Mary has been honored for her contribution to education with the prestigious Greer award and has been made a Fellow of the Ontario Teachers’ Federation.

In addition to freelance editing, Mary teaches a week-long course every summer on how to write for children. Now that her family is older, Mary devotes the rest of her time to writing for children and raising dogs. She breeds and raises champion rough collies and Welsh Springer Spaniels, which were imported from Wales. People who read Mary’s children’s books will readily see that she loves dogs, so it is natural that she and her family live on a farm and raise dogs. In the picture Mary is shown with two of her collie mothers, Annabel and Chloe. Mary has said she is never happier than when little fat puppies are running all over the yard.

Mary’s Sam books were based on a real dog. Sam was Mary’s very eccentric, very nosy Old English Sheepdog. Sam used to stare to get her own way and she was insatiably curious. Mary took the idea and created Sam, the dog detective. If you haven’t read the Sam novels, you can meet Sam, the dog detective, in a new series of graphic novels called the Sam and Friends mysteries.

Mary lives on farm in Clear Creek, Ontario, with her husband, Larry, three dogs and two of their three children. Their other daughter just got married, so there will be room now for another dog!

Reviews

[Adeline Farrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a really cute book! When I was younger, I would always read the Biscuit books, and I wanted to read another cute dog book like those. I love animals and I have two dogs of my own. This is also a good teacher for telling kids what not to feed their puppies or animals they have at home. When children are younger and have pets, they do not know any better for what to give them to eat when everyone is all eating together.

[Annabel Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

( as dictated by 6.5 yo)

Sam had no food and she wanted food. The doorbell rang. Joan and Bob ran for the doorbell. Sam ran, too. At the door, there was cookies, pie, cake and chips.

Bob came to Sam and said, "Do you need food?" And she said, "You bet I do!" And he brought back the real puppy food. And Sam did not like the puppy food. She said, "Ew, YUCK!"

The doorbell rings and the phone rings. Bob went for the door and Joan went for the phone. And there was a pizza deliveryman that says, "Pizza delivery!" They put the pizza down on the table.

She sniffed the pizza. She dragged the pizza behind the box. She scratched the box; she chewed the box. Finally, it opened. And she took a little bite and she said, "Pie is not for puppies. Chips are not for puppies. Cookies are not for puppies. Pizza is for puppies!"

Sam is a cute puppy.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam the puppy is one repressed puppy, forced by his family of "humans" (,I wouldn't even wanna call them that) to refrain from sweet stuff like cake and pies. Author Mary Labatt, with all due respect, is preaching thru her kid's books the same lie heard from vets on TV, that sugary snacks like chocolate cake are "poison" to dogs. (I disproved the lie when I fed my own dog Reese's cups. He lived for a year after until someone living with us made us get rid of her due to, what else, fleas. Anyway, chocolate doesn't kill dogs, prevention kills dogs.) Anyway Sam did eat a slice of pizza, without the parents noticing, so it's not like Ms Labatt is all prude and no fun. And that's what the book is: fun.
Three stars
Get the door, dude, it's Puppy Sam!!!
The cool pizza dude dog!!!

[Goshen PL Childrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Kids Can Read level 1 reader with high interest for kids. Sam is a puppy. His owners Bob and Joan are having a party with lots of food that smells wonderful. Sam wants the cake, cookies, pie, and chips, but Bob and Joan say no. Sam doesn't want dog food! After the pizza is delivered, the door bell and the phone both ring. Sam's conclusion? Pizza is for puppies! There is lots of repetition in this story for beginning readers and chances to predict what will happen next. It also has a story line that makes it good for reading aloud.

[Stephanie Littig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute level 1 reading book. This has rhythm and is a simple book for beginners. Ut follows Sam as he wants all the food the humans bring to the party. He is upset when he is not allowed cake, cookies, nor chips. Pizza comes and he believes this will be for him...cute litle story.

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

i liket it because sam thought dogfood was not for pupys !and pizza is for pupys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Galion Public Library Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by M.R. : "It made me feel good."

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

AR 1.7

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book !

[Kia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mentee/Mentor Read: Read Ahead Program

[Madison Wills]

This is a cute book, and easy to read for children.

[Claudia Naranjo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam, a cute puppy, is looking for something to eat. There is a party in his house and he wants to eat everything he smells. The problem is that the food is not puppy’s food. Sam will do anything for a bite. Pk-1

[Davida · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to go back and change my rating for this. It is so cute!

[Jasmine Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is sooo cute and sad at the same time. All Sam wanted was a piece of pizza! I'm glad he got his pizza in the end! :)

[Lynette]

I havemt read the book yet

[Malika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. I like how it builds to make a good story. Very well done illustrations. I believe, made with charcoal, colored pencils, and/or chalk.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super simple reader. Super cute. Just super all the way around!