Broadway Barks: With CD

by Bernadette Peters, Liz Murphy (Illustrator)

In a park in New York City lives a lonely little dog. He remembers when he used to get taken for walks, fed dinner every night, and told he was a good dog. Now, he's all alone and must fend for himself. But everything changes one day when he sees a lady reading in the park and decides to follow her—all the way to a place where he might become a star!

With a story by actress Bernadette Peters and mixed-media collage illustrations by Liz Murphy, Broadway Barks is a warm and appealing story of loss, reunion, and nurturing, complete with a happy ending.

This beautiful package includes a jacket with foil touches as well as an exclusive CD featuring a reading of the story and an original song written and sung by Bernadette Peters.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Music, Animals, Fiction, Dogs

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2008

About the author

Bernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from New York City.

Peters is known for her charitable work, including as a founder of the Broadway Barks animal charity. To support the animal adoption charity, Broadway Barks, Peters has written two children's books, both illustrated by Liz Murphy.

The first is about a scrappy dog, named after her dog Kramer, and the pleasure of adopting a pet. Titled Broadway Barks, the book is published by Blue Apple Books (2008). The book reached #5 on The New York Times Children's Best Sellers: Picture Books list for the week of June 8, 2008.

Her second children's book is the story of a pit bull, Stella, named after Peters' pit bull. The character would rather be a pig ballerina, but she learns to accept herself. Titled Stella is a Star, the book includes a CD with an original song written and performed by Peters and was released in April 2010 by Blue Apple Books.

(Photo Credit: Mykwain A. Gainey)

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lonely homeless dog is taken to a theatre, Broadway Barks, a fundraiser for pet adoption. Nobody wants him though. Will anyone ever love him?

Bernadette Peters does a great turn by creating a book about a Broadway fundraiser, Pet Adoption. Her book even includes the song that the dog "sings" at the show, performed by the diva herself.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five-stars for the dog illustrations; two stars for the writing. A dog living in Central Park gets a cab ride with "a pretty lady" (who looks like a much younger version of the author, and is referred to several times as being "pretty" ...) to Broadway Barks, where the dogs take the stage in hopes of adoption. Comes with a CD, but I didn't listen to it. Good story and fabulous dogs make up for clunky and "pretty lady" writing.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the overall story was sweet and cute, the writing was too simplistic, even for a children's book. The illustrations are adorable, though. I bought my copy used and the CD was missing (ThriftBooks promptly refunded me and told me to keep the book). I have heard good things about the accompanying song and I will have to try to find it.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Douglas lives in the park but he remembers what it was like to have a home. One day he meets a lady who smells nice. The next time he sees her, she has on her party shoes and she invites Douglas to come with her to a place where he just might find a forever home.

[Juliettereiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super charming and adorable and new and love the song!!!

[Cyndee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just adorable - happy ending ♥

[ReadingJungle.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a review of this book on Reading Jungle and thought it sounded cute so I ordered it. I thought it was a sweet story and the CD really did make a difference with the beautiful music and lyrics of "Kramer's Song" which is a favorite now at my house. So, even though it isn't the best book around, it is good enough to keep a child engrossed and teach a lesson while also singing them to sleep.

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character is a very sweet dog who used to live in an apartment and be called Douglas. When the book opens he is now a stray living in Central Park. Everything changes for the dog formerly known as Douglas when he is taken to "Broadway Barks," an adoption event. There a young girl takes him home and everyone enjoys a very happy ending.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was tempted to give this book only two stars because I didn't really think it was that good (I figured it got published because it is a celebrity book). However, my daughter really liked it, and it does come with a cute CD of Peters reading the story and singing a song about it.

[Ngoc Dang · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book teaches children about adopting animals. It showed how a dog wanted a home, a place to sleep, food to eat, and someone who loves him. Children can make adoption sign and get their parents to adopt a pet.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I especially liked the CD that came with the book. The author tells the story and then she sings at the end. She's a broadway star--Bernadette Peters.

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best part was the CD and listening to Bernadette Peters sing. The book itself was just okay. Famous people who get books published get them published usually because they are famous.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written to promote Broadway Barks, a charity which was established by Ms. Peters and Mary Tyler Moore to find homes for stray animals. Cute but not groundbreaking.

[Lindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story about rescuing pets and finding them new homes. Another in the celebrity-author category.

[Marybeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story does not have much to it, but the pictures & the subject make that OKay.

[Kim Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice cd included with Peters reading the story and singing the lullaby at the end. Lovely.

[Julie Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids in my class love this book!!!!! They request it before nap time !

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Loved the cd.

[Heather Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

megan spring reading 2016, children's book, kit, picture book, dogs, adoption, animals, new york city, prek, kindergarten, first grade

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're famous, you too can throw a bunch of crap down on a page and become a best-selling children's author. At least she is a "pretty lady". Why the heck would a dog want to smell her hair?!

[Melissa Morgal]

Cute book but kind of sad. The dog is abandon and left in a park, meets a nice girl, goes to Broadway Barks, puts on a show in hopes to be adopted, gets pulled off the stage and feels unloved, but then is adopted by someone in the audience.
I may have this book in my classroom.