Puppy!: A Picture Book

by Keith Graves

Trog has all the best toys: the best stick, the best rock, the best mud. But Trog doesn't care about those things. He only wants one thing: a puppy. So he sets off to find one, but what he brings back may not be exactly what he thinks it is.

Join Trog on his quest for the perfect pet in this hilarious picture book from the creator of The Monsterator and Second Banana.

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Dogs, Prehistoric

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 2016

Reviews

[Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thoughtful and insightful commentary on the tragedies of modern life due to the loss of pets as loved ones.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids kept laughing while I read this book, which is always a good sign. It’s funny.

This is a quick read, perfect for short story times.

Good for pet theme and cave man / prehistoric time theme reads.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightfully silly, the illustrations support and sometimes contradict the text in fun says. Bold cartoon like illustrations adds to the overall tone.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Utterly silly, but my kiddos enjoyed it as part of our homeschooling unit on ancient people. Just don't let them think it's based in fact... lol

[Neon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the compassion that is shown in this book.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

As is often the case for youngsters who have everything but what they really want, Trog, a cave boy, desperately wants a puppy. When he happens to find what he thinks is a puppy, he brings it home. But it's miserable, homesick, and misses its own family. To say the puppy eats the family out of house and home is an understatement. But to the family's credit, they and Trog try everything to amuse the little guy. When Puppy's mother comes back to reclaim her, Trog goes in search of his new friend. When he sees how happy she is, he decides to leave her alone and amuse himself. All goes well until he finds a wild version of another familiar pet, a kitty. The facial expressions of all the characters allow readers to see just how desperately Trog longs for a playmate and how miserable poor Puppy is. The illustrations, created with pencil and digital color, have a cartoonish element that works well for this particular story. Perhaps there are many important stories being told here, including the need to leave well enough alone, and to check for sure to make sure the puppy one takes home is actually a puppy and actually wants to come with you. This picture book made me smile, but parents might want to discuss with their offspring the need to leave without touching whatever they find in nature.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Trog has the best toys a cave boy could wish for—a stick, a rock, and plenty of mud—what he really wants is a puppy.He sets off to find one, but the scaly, spiny-backed beast he brings home looks suspiciously more reptilian than canine. Puppies are notorious for chewing issues, but Trog’s pet with its mouthful of sharp teeth takes chewing to a whole new level, munching and chomping through all the rock and stone in Trog’s family cave. Even worse, the creature is clearly unhappy, crying for its parent no matter how Trog tries to distract it—a parent that’s even larger and more destructive than Trog’s pet. Both the text and the cartoonish pencil and digital artwork aim for laughs, and are sure to get them with gags like Trog’s parents pointing out the bad poopy on the cave floor. The simple text with plenty of onomatopoeia and speech bubbles make this excellent for dramatic read alouds or independent beginning readers. Give this to fans of James Marshall, Mo Willems, and other funny picture book authors for plenty of laugh-out-loud fun.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly and fun. I think school-age will love the humor. Preschool will probably get it, too. I will just need to practice the reading to get the timing right with the sound effects.

11/1/16-11/3/16 Used this at elementary school visits. Read it to two 6th and two 5th (they all voted for it), and 2 Kindergarten. Everyone loved the end. The 5th grade seemed to like it much more than the 6th (because 6th is too cool for stuff like that, of course). Kindergarten was riveted.

2/8/17 Used in E preschool storytime (which they didn't do too badly at the end figuring out that I chose this because of the Eating). I feel like they got it some of the time, and not as much the other. It might have been the wandering around child who was too young for this age group and distracted even me. I pointed at the pictures, and said a bit more about them to see if they could follow. They got that he was upset. Missed some of the humor. Figured out it was his mother. Totally missed the humor of the Kitty.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trog was a cavekid who had cool toys (stick, rock, mud), but really wanted a pet! So, when he found a creature to keep, he called it puppy and took it home to be his. It turns out that having a pet can be difficult, especially when it eats everything and cries all the time. The humor in this cartoon picture book by Keith Graves will tickle young readers and keep them guessing. The final resolution makes sense, as does Trog’s laughable next attempt. Puppy! is a pet story that you won’t soon forget.

THOUGHTS: Puppy! would be a fine example of point of view for young readers, and also give first time readers a sense of prediction and AHA moments!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Trog has all the best toys: The best stick The best rock The best mud. But Trog doesn't care about all that. He only wants one thing: A puppy." [inside front flap of hardcover]

Very enjoyable 'I want a pet' story. The 3 year olds I read it to were VERY engaged in Trog's new pet experience. They quickly figured out that the puppy wanted his mommy. Our three year olds really understand that emotion!

The illustrations are cute and couple well with the text. Older readers will pick up on the parallels between what a new puppy sometimes does and what Trog's 'puppy' does. [Spoiler alert: Trog's puppy isn't an actual dog.]

Recommended
Audience: PK-4
Connections: pets, FUN!

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but there are really only two gags in the story. One, that a prehistoric cave boy brings back a "puppy" that eats everything, and two, that the boy just doesn't learn very well. The odd lack of reaction on the part of the rest of the family is never explained, so it lacks the feeling of internal reality that makes a really good picture book work best.
The drawings are very cute, and kids will get a kick out of the things that "puppy" does, but that's about it.

[Ro Menendez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trog is a cave boy who wanted more than anything a puppy of his very own, so he sets out to find one and bring it home. This story will open up the possibility in readers' minds that wild animals have needs and families of their very own, and that removing them from the wild may not always be in the best interest of all concerned. Funny and wild, readers will delight in all that Trog's family goes through to try and keep the pup, and how Trog isn't about to learn his lesson any time soon.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated how the illustrations provided a sense of humor that was unexpected. However, while there is nothing wrong with this book, I would not feel comfortable reading this book to children; especially given the idea that Trog had stolen a baby away from its family, even if it was without his knowing and with somewhat good intentions.

-Book
-List

[Teresa Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my 3 boys (ages 10-23) and we all enjoyed it. The illustrations make the story all the more enjoyable. Both words and pictures are cute and endearing. Trog wants a puppy and when he finds one, he brings it home as his new pet. But Puppy isn't happy and Trog must let him go. Trog is so sad...until he finds Kitty. A delightful book!

[Kate Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grades K-4. Circle story. A cave boy has all the toys a boy could want-- a rock, a stick, some mud. But what he really wants is a puppy. He finds one and takes it home. The "puppy" is unhappy and destroys/eats everything. "Puppy" is happier living with his kind. Reminded me a LOT of "Children Make Terrible Pets but not as good.

[D'Iberville Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is your child a prehistoric fan? This book will be perfect. The "puppy" is an absolutely adorable reptile that is an emotional eater. Trog has all the fun things he could want, but he wants a "puppy." Hilarious misadventures ensue as Trog tries to get Puppy to be a good "puppy." Until, finally Puppy's mom shows up.

Highly recommended.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

a prehistoric boy wants a pet puppy but is what he brings home really a puppy? And will it be happy? Better yet will everyone survive it moving into the cave? Cute idea and I loved the ending. Preschool or one on one for pictures and humor.

[Alyx Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age: Toddler, Preschool
Narrative skills, print motivation

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book! It's really imaginative.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enthusiastic cave boy really, really wants a pet. Good silly fun.

[Marcie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was too ridiculous for me, but I can see that there will be kids who'll love it.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trog's new alligator "puppy" keeps crying until he goes home to his true family.

[bookme4life · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seriously channels Elmyra from Looney Tunes, but with a young cave boy.

[Elizabeth]

I don't know why my library has this with the chapter books/graphic novels. It's a cute, funny picture book though.

[Casandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cavemen
Pets

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

0

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a caveboy who really wants a pet

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute take on the "wanting a pet" story with a "Duck on a Bike" style surprise ending. Is there an offical name for that type of ending?

[Kian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kian just loved this book!