Lost Dog

I Like to Read

by Michael Garland

In this story of an accidental journey turned epic adventure, early readers will delight in all of Pete's stops on the way to visit Grandma.

When Pete sets off for Grandma's house, he runs into bad traffic. He tries a different route, and soon finds himself lost on a woodsy road. "Where is Mutt Street?" he asks a bear. "That way," the bear replies. As Pete follows directions from different animals he meets, he finds himself in the desert, the jungle and even the arctic! By the time Pete finally reaches Mutt Street, he�s traveled through all sorts of climates and encountered a multitude of friendly animals. But of course, it was all worth it to see Grandma's smiling face!

About the Series

I Like to Read® books are picture books written and illustrated so that even the newest reader can enjoy a satisfying, quality literary experience. The books in the series are written at kindergarten and early first grade reading levels.
"These books deftly combine text and art to create a positive experience for new readers."—School Library Journal

"This series dares to make entertaining reads from short texts and familiar vocabulary"—Kirkus Reviews

"Each one makes the hard world of learning to read enough fun to encourage children at this critical developmental moment to try another one."—Vicky Smith, Children's and YA Editor at Kirkus Reviews

Genres: Picture Books, Dogs, Childrens, Animals, Fantasy, Fiction, Travel

24 pages, Hardcover

First published July 27, 2015

About the author

Author and illustrator Michael Garland was born in Manhattan in 1952. He studied art at Pratt Institute and soon after graduating, he sold his first illustration to True Confessions magazine. He has written or illustrated over 40 books.

Reviews

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pete's the lost dog in this story, going to Grandma's house. But who ISN'T lost? The first graders who try to read this book on their own: It's so accessible to early readers.

When Pete starts to get lost he asks different folks for directions. Every time he winds up in a more bizarre location.

My favorite illustration shows a double page full of penguins, pointing out the way to Pete. Just about every one of those penguins is pointing in the same direction. Hilarious.

FIVE STARS for a charming adventure, between Pete getting un-lost and all the first graders, having a sunny-happy reading experience.

[Shannon Bradbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love I like to read books. They have made the journey of reading a whole lot easier for some of my reluctant readers. This book is about a dog who goes on an adventure and meets all sorts of animals and is his travels lead him to many different places (desert, artic ..etc) You’ll love reading this story.

[Angie Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me smile.

[Haaley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute book. The story ia more in the illustrations.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the adventure.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations...I think even cat people may like this book!

[Beth Vredenburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little animal adventure story Pete the dog is trying to find Mutt St. Where his Grandma lives. He ends up all over the world. gr level C

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pete the dog is off to visit his Grandma on her birthday. With gifts in hand, he hops into his bright yellow roadster headed to Mutt Street. But once he is on the highway, Pete encounters a massive traffic jam and decides to take a detour. He ends up on a mountaintop, hopelessly lost. He asks directions of a bear, who replies, “That way.” But those directions only lead him to other animals (bird, leopard, walrus, penguins) with the same reply. Finally, a whale gives Pete and his car a lift to the city. There, Pete spies a policeman who gets him to Grandma's house. An overjoyed Grandma is happy to see Pete. The colorful, over-sized digital illustrations are striking and complement the tale nicely; even the endpapers are significant to the story. And the habitats of the various animals Pete encounters take him seemingly around the world, pointedly to show how lost Pete is. The story is appropriate for toddlers and emerging readers. It would be a great choice for reading aloud.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dog is on his way to give a birthday gift to his grandmother. Traffic inspires him to take the road less traveled by and soon he is lost. He asks directions from a variety of animals that show he has, indeed, gone far afield. Luckily a lift from a whale sets him right again and all ends well. OK, there's not much to this book, but that's sort of the point. It's a fun easy reader designed to give beginning book-lovers a sense of triumph as they conquer the written word. This does an especially nice job of it as the simple text is accompanied by Michael Garland's trademark illustrations that pop from the page with color and expression. It's an excellent addition to collections serving the very young.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this "I Like to Read" book, Pete heads off to his grandmother's house for her birthday party. But because traffic is congested, he takes an alternate route and ends up quite lost. What an adventure he has as every animal he meets sends him off in another direction, and he even ends up riding a whale back to shore. Apparently, he didn't lose too much time since it's still Grandma's birthday. The illustrations, created with pencil and digital tools, allows readers to gain some perspective on Pete's journey as he goes to the tops of mountains and explores jungles on his way to Grandmother's house. I think I've been just as lost as Pete on some of my travels, but I didn't necessarily have the adventure or see the marvelous sites that he did.

[Yvonne Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

For any beginning reader. Lost Dog is a GRL C book that has the most adorable main character. Pete wants to visit his grandma for her birthday but he gets lost when he decides to take another route. Along the way he meets new animals that help by giving him directions. When he finally gets to Grandma’s house he has the perfect birthday gift for her. I love the ‘I Like to Read’ books because they continue be “real” books for beginning readers. They even have a short blurb on the back that readers can use to get their mind ready to ready and make predictions.

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pete the Dog plans to give his Grandma a birthday gift. Traffic is heavy and he soon leaves the crowded highway for the open road. His detour leads him halfway around the world and he is soon asking for directions from a bear, bird, leopard, walrus, and penguins. Grandma is overjoyed when Pete finally arrives at her home.

The text, intended to encourage emerging readers, is spare and simple. It also lends itself well to reading aloud. Combined with colorful illustrations, young readers will find this an engaging adventure.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great "silly" book, but it was...well, very silly. :-p
I think the kiddos would have some giggles about how lost Pete gets, as he takes terrible directions from various animals (or maybe the critters give good directions, and Pete just can't follow them!).
For me, I got more giggles out of the progression of lost-ness that poor Pete follows. The cover image says it all - "But why are there PENGUINS now??"

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost Dog by Michael Garland is a entertaining book for the very beginning reader. Pete was going to visit his Grandma on Mutt Street but got very lost. He ended up in the Antarctic! But have no fear, a passing whale saves the day. Large print and colorful, supporting pictures help the beginning reader decipher the text. The illustrations will inspire fun conversations between adults and children. For ages 5 - 7.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pete, the dog, was on his way to his grandma’s house to give her a birthday present when he decided to get off the busy highway. Pretty soon he was lost. He got directions from the bear in the woods, the buffalo on the plains, the jaguar in the jungle, and the whale in the ocean. Soon he found Mutt Street and his grandma. http://julianaleewriter.com/the-cybil...

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pete travels far and wide to get to Grandma's house and deliver her birthday present.
Large, plain font for the easy sparse and repetitive text invites the youngest of readers to read along.
Digitally rendered, full color illustrations fill every page.
I like the license plate: K-9!

[Michelle Farella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early reader picture book. Great illustrations!

[Marcie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Illustrations are lovely.

[Jschofi4 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like the illustrations.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really love this one about a dog traveling to his grandmothers and getting lost. Animals try and help him find his way along the journey. Simple and sweet,

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations accompanying this easy early reader are quite pretty to look at and tell a complicated story about just how lost this dog is... and yet he never gets frustrated!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shortcut to grandma's turns into epic adventure.