Nellie Belle

by Mem Fox, Mike Austin (Illustrator)

Meet Nellie Belle, a loveable pup who has fun, fun, fun everywhere she goes in this picture book from the author of Baby Bedtime and Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug!

On the beach, in the yard, even in the park in the dark—Nellie Belle always has fun. But what’s the most fun of all? Why snuggling in bed with her best friend Ted, of course!

With terrific rhyme, sweet characters, and a cozy ending, this picture book from Mem Fox is just right for reading aloud to little ones. And illustrator Mike Austin’s darling dog makes it especially irresistible!

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

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 3, 2015

About the author

Merrion Frances Fox is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox has been semi-retired since 1996, but she still gives seminars and lives in Adelaide, South Australia.

Reviews

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute illustrations. Text can be sung to the tune "Oh Where Have You Been, Billy Boy?"

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between the attractive, cheerful illustrations, the easily 'sung' rhyme, and the adventure that any tot can imagine going on herself, this is a winner. My little ones and I would have had it in constant rotation.

[Lu's Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lu mostly found this book concerning. The dog digs a large hole (which is plenty to get you in trouble at our house) and then escapes! Lu did not think much of where the dog went either. I think we're supposed to think it's in good fun, but the walking up to strangers, jumping into the water without grownups, and then getting lost in the dark woods was alarming to Lu (who is suddenly very aware of RULES). The dog knocks over a baker with a cake on the way home and steals what looks like a chocolate chip cookie. SO, add onto this the discussion about how "that's NOT what you do with cakes" and "that doggie not chocolate. Gonna be sick" and you have me happy this is a library book.

(March 2019, library book)

[Kat Schrav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a great read for owners of escaping beagles!

[Dee-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple sing-song type of story, which easily rolls of the tongue when trying to get kids to sleep. Each page sort of elads to the next, which had the kdis guessing what the next place would be.

[Laurie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely wanted to check this book out since it's by Mem Fox, but I was surprised by the low ratings. Now that I've read it, I can see why some readers might feel uncomfortable with the rhythm. If you read it, you have to be deliberate about the rhythm you use, or it can feel clunky. And some people won't like all the repetition, but I think this makes it great for the youngest of readers.

However, if you sing the book to the tune of "Billy Boy," it works really well! Like many reviewers, I felt instinctively that there was some tune to go along with the words, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. So I went looking online. Other reviewers here pointed me in the direction of "Billy Boy," and once I reacquainted myself with that song on YouTube, I enjoyed the flow of the book much more. I have to wonder if Mem Fox had that tune in mind as she wrote this. And if so, my only criticism is that it's not mentioned anywhere in the description to make it easier for people to discover.

The illustrations are nice and the dog's adventures make for a cute story. I know not everyone likes to sing, but I do, and I like to show parents this alternative way of reading books with their children, so I'm looking forward to using this in a future storytime.

[Alana · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a rhyming book, it was entertaining and kept my toddler's interest, as did the pictures. I wasn't super fond of the ending though; it seems to imply that trying new things is scary and you're better off just staying home, even though there were lots of new fun things along the way. But on the positive side, maybe the intention is more that it's OK to try new things, but it's also OK to go back to what you know and love if you get into something that seems over your head? Not sure, so I'd call this more of a 2.5.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really cute illustrations, but meh on the story. I am not familiar with the song that Fox must have had in mind while writing, so it just seemed like a mess of repetition (other reviews point to "Billy Boy," which I've never heard and is not indicated on the book). Notably, this is the first Mem Fox book I've read that shows any diversity in human characters.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Austin's illustrations are a perfect compliment to Mem Fox's marvelous, rolling text. There is so much to talk about with young children as we examine the nuances of the illustrations. This book is definitely worth owning for many repeated reads and discussions. Grandkids loved it (ages 2-4).

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this is set to a song but I'm not sure which song it is. Cute story about a puppy having fun at the beach and at the park, until it isn't fun. Then she runs home and snuggles with her stuffed toy. Happy puppy.

[Kate Nichter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nellie Belle is a children's book written by Mem Fox. This book has lots of repitition and can be read in different voices and tones. The pacing is quick, and the setting is not set. Nellie Belle is in the park, at the beach, in the yard, and other fun places.

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic rhyming story asks a dog if he "is it fun in the yard"... and then follows the dog after he digs his way out of the yard to the street, the sea...but the park is too dark and she races home to find the bed.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute and simple book about a dog’s adventures and about her home being her cozy place. The illustrations are great, especially the parts that don’t have their own text because it makes kids do some critical thinking to figure out what’s going on.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story that I read to Kohen.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story, but not how it repeated itself over and over again.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVED the rhyming cadence! It's a fun story.

[Lara Bate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dog explores the outdoors. He finds a possum in the dark and runs all the way home and sleeps.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kait thought the illustrations were cute but she found the story a bit boring.

[Maegan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Usually Mem Fox is a winner for me, but this one just didn't grab me. Cute illustrations. The repetition in the text would make it a fun read-aloud for the young ones.

[Mrs Heet -Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit sing-songy but not enough to hold the attention of the kids.

[Fatima Seraj Alam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Repetitive sentences make this book one sing along read. Daughter and I loved shouting Nellie Belle Nellie Belle at the end of each sentence. Memories were made.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, everyone! Today, we read the adorable book Nellie Belle by Mem Fox & Mike Austin, a singsong rhyming book about a playful little dog.

Nellie Belle has fun wherever she goes. One day, she is having fun digging in her own yard, when she finds she’s dug herself right under the fence and out the other side! So, why not go exploring? She meets new friends on the street, at the beach, even in the sea! But when she wanders in the park in the dark, she gets a bit spooked. So she decides to run home to where she has the most fun of all: curled up in her own bed with her teddy bear.

This was an adorable, simple story that is perfect for baby bookworms! The rhyme scheme has lots of repetition and the words and concepts are very toddler-friendly, and the colorful illustrations are full of details and humor that can be fully discovered and appreciated as children grow. The length is perfect for even the littlest readers, and JJ lit up while we read it! This is a fun one for all ages, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Venus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum

The illustrations and story are simple and straightforward in this picture book about a fun-loving puppy. Written in a simple rhyme that desperately felt like it needed a melody to go along with it. In fact, I scoured the internet looking for such a song, thinking it would be like the Napping House, but no luck. Frankly, on its own the rhymes felt a bit clunky, as I had difficulty finding the non-existent beat. I don't think this ruined the story, it just felt like it was missing something. So somebody get on writing a song for this book, because it really needs it.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book. It had a lot of repetition which is great for toddlers and beginning readers. My daughter seemed to really enjoy it too. When it got to the part about the dark forest, we all said no...and then turned the page and thought it was funny that Nellie thought the same thing. The ending was sweet as well. A solid 3 star book.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay - the illustrations were cute but overall forgettable, and the rhyme scheme and repetition ensure that it won't be used in storytimes too often. (The kids will probably like it, but it will grate on the grown-ups.) Also, now I have "Oh where have you been, Billy Boy Billy Boy?" stuck in my head, because that's the way I got the text to make sense.
As a whole, though, I liked the story of Nellie Belle's adventure!

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the rhymes and it has my name in it

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of the annoying repetition and certainly wouldn't use it in storytime. HOWEVER, it would have been great if it had been developed slightly more and made into an ER. The repetition and working on sight words would have been a great early reader book for younger school-age children that are beginning to read.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers follow a cute puppy as she escapes her backyard and has fun on the street, at the beach, in the sea, in the park, but not in the dark! After getting scared by possums, Nellie Belle runs right back home and cuddles up in her bed.

Digital illustrations.

I really like the rhyming and repetition used in text; it makes for a fun read aloud for PreK-2.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute illustrations. Nellie Belle is an adorable pup. I think once I get the rhyme scheme figured out (lingering effects of Nyquil are dumbing me down considerably today)it will make a fun read-aloud.

[Elizabeth Moreau Nicolai]

Cute and sweet. A little bit lost on my baby storytime and the pictures were a little too crowded to be an ideal baby time choice but it is a solid choice. It would work really well for a toddler time.