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Ξεχωρίζω και σφυρίζω
Όλα τα σκυλάκια πάνε στη δουλειά,
ακόμα και στο γήπεδο, με την ίδια φορεσιά.
Όμως μια σκυλίτσα ανακαλύπτει πως δεν είναι σαν τους άλλους.
Το μόνο που θέλει η αταίριαστη σκυλίτσα είναι να μη διαφέρει.
Έτσι ξεκινάει ένα μακρύ ταξίδι ώσπου να βρει έναν τόπο όπου θα ταιριάζει.
Καμιά φορά, όμως, χρειάζεται να γίνεις ένα με το πλήθος για να καταλάβεις ότι είναι προτιμότερο να ξεχωρίζεις... (Από την παρουσίαση στο οπισθόφυλλο του βιβλίου)
ακόμα και στο γήπεδο, με την ίδια φορεσιά.
Όμως μια σκυλίτσα ανακαλύπτει πως δεν είναι σαν τους άλλους.
Το μόνο που θέλει η αταίριαστη σκυλίτσα είναι να μη διαφέρει.
Έτσι ξεκινάει ένα μακρύ ταξίδι ώσπου να βρει έναν τόπο όπου θα ταιριάζει.
Καμιά φορά, όμως, χρειάζεται να γίνεις ένα με το πλήθος για να καταλάβεις ότι είναι προτιμότερο να ξεχωρίζεις... (Από την παρουσίαση στο οπισθόφυλλο του βιβλίου)
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2016
6 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
December 29, 2019
A children's book that delivers the message, that being different is absolutely okay. The author,who is also the illustrator, uses brightly colored pictures of exaggerated length daschunds. Can't wait to read to my granddaughter.
October 18, 2020
3.75 stars, celebrate what makes you different and unique in this feel good dog story. Read this and then pair it with Kelly DiPucchio'sGaston.
December 28, 2019
A story about embracing what makes you different than others and being proud of who you are.
In Odd Dog Out, all the dogs look and act exactly the same. All except one. She dresses differently and does activities like sports or music differently. But being different can be lonely sometimes too and she decides to leave the town where she doesn’t feel like she fits in and travel. Maybe one day she find somewhere that she can fit in.
Through different seasons and different locations she walks and walks until she finds a place with people just like her. There she meets someone else just as different as she is who tells her that it’s good to stand out. That’s when she realizes that there is nothing wrong with her and that it is ok to just be herself.
"Stand tall. Be proud."
The illustrations in the book are very interesting. At the beginning when our main dog is in the city, all the streets and activities are all are uniform and symmetrical. Everyone has on similar outfits, drives the same colored cars, even the trees look similar. Once she decides to leave, the pictures change just a bit. My favorite is found in one these pages. She’s leaving the city one night and the street lamp shines a spotlight on her and her suitcase, showing her with a tear in her eye. The words on the page are placed in just a way that they are only within that small amount of light. One word on top of another until the sentence is finished. But adding to the emotional moment are small dogs in the background that you barely can make out with one saying “Don’t go.” In fact, these words are so small and blend in so well to the background that you almost don’t notice them.
The quality of the story is quite well done. It has an upbeat cadence that allows the reader to add a lot of emotion when reading to a little one. Not to mention that the rhymes and rhythm are always on point.
Overall, a very heart-warming story about being proud of who you are and not being afraid to stand out.
Rating: 5 stars
Thanks to HarperCollins and Rob Biddulph for the reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.
In Odd Dog Out, all the dogs look and act exactly the same. All except one. She dresses differently and does activities like sports or music differently. But being different can be lonely sometimes too and she decides to leave the town where she doesn’t feel like she fits in and travel. Maybe one day she find somewhere that she can fit in.
Through different seasons and different locations she walks and walks until she finds a place with people just like her. There she meets someone else just as different as she is who tells her that it’s good to stand out. That’s when she realizes that there is nothing wrong with her and that it is ok to just be herself.
"Stand tall. Be proud."
The illustrations in the book are very interesting. At the beginning when our main dog is in the city, all the streets and activities are all are uniform and symmetrical. Everyone has on similar outfits, drives the same colored cars, even the trees look similar. Once she decides to leave, the pictures change just a bit. My favorite is found in one these pages. She’s leaving the city one night and the street lamp shines a spotlight on her and her suitcase, showing her with a tear in her eye. The words on the page are placed in just a way that they are only within that small amount of light. One word on top of another until the sentence is finished. But adding to the emotional moment are small dogs in the background that you barely can make out with one saying “Don’t go.” In fact, these words are so small and blend in so well to the background that you almost don’t notice them.
The quality of the story is quite well done. It has an upbeat cadence that allows the reader to add a lot of emotion when reading to a little one. Not to mention that the rhymes and rhythm are always on point.
Overall, a very heart-warming story about being proud of who you are and not being afraid to stand out.
Rating: 5 stars
Thanks to HarperCollins and Rob Biddulph for the reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.
December 3, 2021
A cute book about being different and how you shouldn't feel sad about it but embrace it!
I was absolutely delighted that one of my libraries added this book to their collection, I have been meaning to read it for some time.
It is a book about a dog-filled world, everyone is the same... or are they? We quickly see that there is one little dog that is totally different from everyone, she is wearing bright colours (and depending on the season various accessories (like a swim ring in summer)). She doesn't feel all too happy about her life in this world and decides to travel!
I could imagine that she may want to go away from it all. She got rejected from various things she wanted to do because she didn't conform to the way everyone else dressed. She felt out of place because she was the only one daring to be different.
I loved to see her travel, I was wondering if she would find her place, or if something would happen which would make her turn around.
The end was terrific, I was so happy for our little MC, plus the book really send a positive (and needed) message to the world. Don't be afraid to be different! Be who you want to be!
The book is delightfully illustrated. It took me a bit longer to read because I was just looking at the illustrations and find all the little details in them. Plus the colours! So pretty!
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I was absolutely delighted that one of my libraries added this book to their collection, I have been meaning to read it for some time.
It is a book about a dog-filled world, everyone is the same... or are they? We quickly see that there is one little dog that is totally different from everyone, she is wearing bright colours (and depending on the season various accessories (like a swim ring in summer)). She doesn't feel all too happy about her life in this world and decides to travel!
I could imagine that she may want to go away from it all. She got rejected from various things she wanted to do because she didn't conform to the way everyone else dressed. She felt out of place because she was the only one daring to be different.
I loved to see her travel, I was wondering if she would find her place, or if something would happen which would make her turn around.
The end was terrific, I was so happy for our little MC, plus the book really send a positive (and needed) message to the world. Don't be afraid to be different! Be who you want to be!
The book is delightfully illustrated. It took me a bit longer to read because I was just looking at the illustrations and find all the little details in them. Plus the colours! So pretty!
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
November 3, 2018
A great book for exploring identity and for encouraging children to appreciate differences in others. The patterns, repeated rhymes and bright colours of the illustrations make the story accessible and engaging - spotting the odd dog on each page would also encourage the children to interact with the story. A great book for KS1.
August 26, 2016
Fantastic book, with a beautiful message! Rob Biddulph's book always have a lovely rhyme rhythm to them, but this one is even more special. Absolutely loved this book, and the message is one the everyone kid should follow.
July 8, 2020
Vibrant illustrations and clever text remind young readers of the importance of individuality in this message-driven (but not heavy-handed) rhyming story.
March 30, 2020
This cute picture book is written in rhyming lines about the odd dog out — a dog that isn’t like everyone else. After leaving and trying out a new place, he quickly learns that every place has an odd dog out. He learns an important lesson on standing out and being proud of who you are! It will be a wonderful addition to discussions on identity and unique characteristics. The artist used pencil, some paper, a scanner, Photoshop CS5, a Wacom Tablet, and a Cintiq 6D Art Pen to create the digital illustrations for this book.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
February 20, 2020
The odd dog out discovers that finding the place where she fits in isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
There are wiener dogs galore in this brightly colored picture book. The illustrations are super fun.
Although this story ends with the common moral to "be yourself,", the story takes a twist on the usual tale of someone finding a place where s/he belongs. The pup who dances to a different beat leaves to fit a place where she fits in. Once she finds a community in which she is just like everyone else, another dog encourages to enjoy being different and standing out. So, she returns to the home she left where she celebrates her individuality.
There are wiener dogs galore in this brightly colored picture book. The illustrations are super fun.
Although this story ends with the common moral to "be yourself,", the story takes a twist on the usual tale of someone finding a place where s/he belongs. The pup who dances to a different beat leaves to fit a place where she fits in. Once she finds a community in which she is just like everyone else, another dog encourages to enjoy being different and standing out. So, she returns to the home she left where she celebrates her individuality.
October 14, 2017
"Blaze a trail
Be who you are"
I really enjoyed reading this book. This story is great for boosting confidence and being one's self. It highlights the essence of being proud and standing out. Odd dog thinks being different is not good which makes her flee to another place only to realise, with the help of another dog, how awesome it is to be different. Sometimes, it takes others for us to realise the gem in us.
Be who you are"
I really enjoyed reading this book. This story is great for boosting confidence and being one's self. It highlights the essence of being proud and standing out. Odd dog thinks being different is not good which makes her flee to another place only to realise, with the help of another dog, how awesome it is to be different. Sometimes, it takes others for us to realise the gem in us.
January 29, 2018
An empowering message about choosing to stand out from the crowd and feel pride at being different to everyone else. Excellent themes of self acceptance and becoming comfortable in your own skin- 'The Odd Dog Out' shows the reader that you do not have to be the same as everyone else to feel like you belong.
Biddulph employs lovely rhyming structure that flows beautifully and naturally, adding to the sense of different becoming the everyday.
Biddulph employs lovely rhyming structure that flows beautifully and naturally, adding to the sense of different becoming the everyday.
September 20, 2018
The rhyme and rhythm from start to finish make this picture book an easy 'read aloud' story. It flows well and is simple in its approach, however the message that is being conveyed is huge. It highlights the importance of individuality and embraces the idea that what makes you different makes you special. It's ok to stand out from the crowd! The illustrations are also brilliant. I would highly recommend.
January 1, 2020
Charming, charming, charming. Odd Dog lives in a world where she does not fit in, and finally she heads out to find a new, more receptive environment to her quirks. When she does, though, Odd Dog finds she unexpectedly misses her old world.
An interesting take on creativity and one’s environment, with completely delightful illustrations. For anyone who has ever felt like an Odd Dog or who has wished to be one.
An interesting take on creativity and one’s environment, with completely delightful illustrations. For anyone who has ever felt like an Odd Dog or who has wished to be one.
September 15, 2020
Lots of colour and variation on every page to keep exciting. Very important message considering the world children are growing up in now where although things are changing, there are still ideals of what people should look like everywhere. Supports creativity and growth. Flips the situation of ‘why am I different?’ and ‘how can I look the same?’ to being different is positive and empowering. Also teaches children to embrace others who are different and can be used when talking about kindness to all.
September 16, 2020
This text manages to inform, directly and indirectly that is it okay to be different while also entertaining us, creating a complex and challenging reading journey, while making funny side jokes it also deeply explores inclusion, exclusion and the journey of ‘self’.
It uses clever plays on words and rhymes, mixing colourful images and words on age to create a story of an odd dog out and his journey, where the images say more than the words, creating an almost second language which is visual.
It uses clever plays on words and rhymes, mixing colourful images and words on age to create a story of an odd dog out and his journey, where the images say more than the words, creating an almost second language which is visual.
August 31, 2019
Lovely book, it flows really nicely and is full of positivity and individuality.
December 28, 2021
This book is just gorgeous! We love it so much, especially the ending! Be who you are!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2024
This was a really good book! The message is wonderful, and I'm glad we're teaching people this in a cute and charming way:)
December 23, 2019
Such a sweet book about individuality and accepting yourself and your truth.
Thank you Harper Collins for the free copy.
Thank you Harper Collins for the free copy.
August 29, 2016
We’ve travelled far, then found our place
With Penguin Blue’s kite-tangled chase,
Then Grrrrr! showed us that making friends
Beats any trophy for its ends.
I loved them both, so let us see,
Can Biddulph make it three for three…?
This ‘Odd Dog Out’, though very small
Is learning how to stand up tall;
That differing from all the rest
Is NOT the same as second best.
And fitting in? That’s moot, you see
With all the world’s variety!
Empowering stuff! And far from quiet:
Each page turn is an awesome riot
Of bold design and vivid colour,
With so much hidden to discover!
Pore over it with eyes and fingers –
Read. Repeat. It’s one that lingers…
If spotted on the shelves, hold up!
And listen to this dachshund pup,
For every dog must have its day
And you’ll love what she has to say
I know I did. 3rd book, no fails –
Well done there, Rob.
…Keep
……blazing
………trails.
With Penguin Blue’s kite-tangled chase,
Then Grrrrr! showed us that making friends
Beats any trophy for its ends.
I loved them both, so let us see,
Can Biddulph make it three for three…?
This ‘Odd Dog Out’, though very small
Is learning how to stand up tall;
That differing from all the rest
Is NOT the same as second best.
And fitting in? That’s moot, you see
With all the world’s variety!
Empowering stuff! And far from quiet:
Each page turn is an awesome riot
Of bold design and vivid colour,
With so much hidden to discover!
Pore over it with eyes and fingers –
Read. Repeat. It’s one that lingers…
If spotted on the shelves, hold up!
And listen to this dachshund pup,
For every dog must have its day
And you’ll love what she has to say
I know I did. 3rd book, no fails –
Well done there, Rob.
…Keep
……blazing
………trails.
February 14, 2018
This book has some really fun illustrations!
The message it sends to children is so important- it is good to be different!
The message it sends to children is so important- it is good to be different!
December 18, 2018
Good moral message. Good book to recommend to someone who was feeling left out to boost confidence and make them understand it's okay to be different
November 28, 2019
A wonderfully cheery, upbeat story about individuality and being happy with who you are.
February 28, 2020
For busy dogs a busy day
of busy work and busy play.
Swimmer...sailor...soldier...scout...
They all blend in. No dog stand out.
But wait. Look closer. Can you see
one dog behaving differently?
Author and illustrator Rob Biddulph made waves with his critically acclaimed and crowd-pleasing picture book debut, Blown Away. Readers might also recognize the London-based creator from his other picture book titles which include The Grizzly Bear Who Lost His GRRRRR! and the Dinosaur Juniors series. Biddulph's latest, the rhyming picture book Odd Dog Out, is another winning read from the creator, one full of heart and effervescence.
In a sea of dogs that act, move, and dress in uniform fashions, Odd Dog is a "small dog [who] does not fit". Wearing a brightly coloured pom pom hat, and rainbow scarf wrapped around her long dachshund body, Odd Dog does indeed stand out from the crowd. At a soccer game, Odd Dog is the one saying "Throw!", while everyone says "Kick!"; at a concert packed with violin players, Odd Dog has her cool guitar. Feeling sad and alone from her lack of fitting in, Odd Dog consider a change of scenery: will she find her home, her place in "Fabulous Doggywood"? While Doggywood offers our protagonist a seemingly welcome surprise, a chance encounter with a self-assured, supportive and different-from-the-new-crowd dog leads to a meaningful moment: one that brings Odd Dog to a significant understanding and happy recognition about her stand-out, different self. Anchored by a finale of good reveals, as well as a nice curve back to the book's opening, Odd Dog Out's positive core message- and genuine optimism- is sure to spark with readers.
Supremely engaging and unmissable, with its vivid rainbow colour palette, adorable main character, and buoyant, concise rhyme, Odd Dog Out makes for a perfect storytime read aloud (but would do just as well captivating a small audience!). For readers familiar with Biddulph's art and humour from previous picture books, the creator's recognizable illustrative style and snappy-sweet rhyming will hold great appeal. Readers who are looking for a fun and totally charming story with a thoughtfully placed message centered around self-confidence and embracing difference- along the lines of K-Fai Steele's A Normal Pig or Mo Willems' Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed- might especially appreciate Rob Biddulph's Odd Dog Out. Note: If you are able to, be sure to take a peak under the dust jacket for an wonderful treat of a picture book 'undie'!
Bonus: On the HarperCollins website, you can find a link to a two-page printable activity for Odd Dog Out; you can also read the first few pages of the picture book.
I received a copy of this title courtesy of Wunderkind PR and HarperCollins Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.
January 6, 2020
Odd Books are In.
This review originally published at http://www.drttmk.com/books/odd-dog-out.
It's basically the same premise as "Mr. Tiger Goes Wild." It takes place in a town of dogs, where all the dogs are exactly alike. They all wear the same thing. All the swimmers wear the same outfits. All the dogs on the street wear suits. "They all blend in. No dog stands out." But there's one dog who doesn't look anything like them. She's got a colorful scarf on and headphones, and she's listening to music. She doesn't do things in the same way as everybody else, and she's really sad about it. So she leaves, and she goes searching all over the place and finally ends up at "Fabulous Doggywood" and finds that there are a massive number of other dogs who are dressed identically to her. They all ride bikes like she does.
But there's one dog that isn't like the rest of them (including her). He's got a newsboy cap on and a sweater. She goes up to him and says, 'I know it must be so sad for you being the only one like you,' and he's like, "I really feel like I belong. I love to stand out from the crowd! And so should you. Stand tall. Be proud." And she goes, 'Oh, obviously.' And she has a change of heart, and goes back home, because she wants to be the only one like her. And when she comes home, all the other dogs tell her how much they missed her and cheer and throw her in the air and say, "You've made us all appreciate that being different's really great!" And a few of them are dressing differently. The last page reads, "Be who you are."
Oh, come on. She learns to be different because somebody tells her to? So basically, she just goes through her entire life following instructions. She feels like she shouldn't be different because everybody else won't like it, until somebody else tells her it's okay to be different and then she's alright with it. (It doesn't help that she's female and there's no other obviously female dogs in the book.) She doesn't come to any conclusions by herself. And the other dogs who say, 'You made us really appreciate this': Why? What is good about being different? Why is it good to be who you are? There's no justification for her coming to this conclusion or the feeling that the other characters have. It's just silly.
The art's great. I'll give Biddulph that. It's really cute. And on the last page, you see that the newsie dog came to visit her, like she's made a friend (or possibly a lover, given the hearts--for Pete's sake, she just met the guy!).
The rhyming is also very well done. The message is good, it's just poorly communicated and dropped like an anvil out of the sky. It needs justification.
Message: Be different, because we said so.
This review originally published at http://www.drttmk.com/books/odd-dog-out.
It's basically the same premise as "Mr. Tiger Goes Wild." It takes place in a town of dogs, where all the dogs are exactly alike. They all wear the same thing. All the swimmers wear the same outfits. All the dogs on the street wear suits. "They all blend in. No dog stands out." But there's one dog who doesn't look anything like them. She's got a colorful scarf on and headphones, and she's listening to music. She doesn't do things in the same way as everybody else, and she's really sad about it. So she leaves, and she goes searching all over the place and finally ends up at "Fabulous Doggywood" and finds that there are a massive number of other dogs who are dressed identically to her. They all ride bikes like she does.
But there's one dog that isn't like the rest of them (including her). He's got a newsboy cap on and a sweater. She goes up to him and says, 'I know it must be so sad for you being the only one like you,' and he's like, "I really feel like I belong. I love to stand out from the crowd! And so should you. Stand tall. Be proud." And she goes, 'Oh, obviously.' And she has a change of heart, and goes back home, because she wants to be the only one like her. And when she comes home, all the other dogs tell her how much they missed her and cheer and throw her in the air and say, "You've made us all appreciate that being different's really great!" And a few of them are dressing differently. The last page reads, "Be who you are."
Oh, come on. She learns to be different because somebody tells her to? So basically, she just goes through her entire life following instructions. She feels like she shouldn't be different because everybody else won't like it, until somebody else tells her it's okay to be different and then she's alright with it. (It doesn't help that she's female and there's no other obviously female dogs in the book.) She doesn't come to any conclusions by herself. And the other dogs who say, 'You made us really appreciate this': Why? What is good about being different? Why is it good to be who you are? There's no justification for her coming to this conclusion or the feeling that the other characters have. It's just silly.
The art's great. I'll give Biddulph that. It's really cute. And on the last page, you see that the newsie dog came to visit her, like she's made a friend (or possibly a lover, given the hearts--for Pete's sake, she just met the guy!).
The rhyming is also very well done. The message is good, it's just poorly communicated and dropped like an anvil out of the sky. It needs justification.
Message: Be different, because we said so.
February 14, 2020
Told in rhyme, Odd Dog Out is a story of, well, an odd dog who decides maybe she’ll try to find a place where she will fit in. And she will…but there are very nice twists just the same.
It isn’t just that she’s looks odd against the uniformed crowds of uniformity. She approaches things differently, whether its flying, playing ball, or playing with the orchestra:
“It’s very sad
(cue violin),
but this small dog
does not fit in.”
Her long journey takes her to Doggywood where we’ll be quick to notice how well she will fit in. And she will, but someone else doesn’t. She feels empathetic, approaching the odd dog out to tell them they’re not alone, “I feel for you. I once was an outsider too.” This where an unexpected lesson comes in…and one of tremendous value. This dog doesn’t feel like an outsider. They just love standing out from the crowd. “Stand tall. Be proud.”
“That dog is right.
It’s plain to see
there’s nothing wrong
with being me.”
She returns home. And guess what?! The other dogs are glad she’s back! Scanning the pages were already amusing, but now there are little touches of difference to spy. The other dogs, missing their Odd Dog Out, made them appreciate difference. They’ve begun to look and act different in their own way.
I love that our Odd Dog Out didn’t have to really leave her home to find acceptance; that she could be herself where she is.
The words and illustrations are playful: ‘sad violin’; the sequence of dogs as swimmer, sailor, soldier, and scout; the yellow submarine; the different sports and modes of transportation. Biddulph sets up a culture of a place (that will feel familiar to older readers) and in doing so, it doesn’t criticize the masses for all looking alike. You can imagine them being comfortable, or that it makes sense to them. You can also imagine how our protagonist must feel; and then how much better she feels upon returning and seeing that her willingness to be herself inspired others to perhaps explore ideas of being different—all while being home. I mean, the punk dog is awesome. And the one that channels Coco Chanel?
The final double-spread of dogs are silly and fun, but do not miss that particularly sweet final page. Odd Dog Out is an entertaining story with an unexpectedly strong message of pride, love and community. It’s one you’ll not want to miss out one. Really, don’t be the odd one out this time and not read this picture book.
It isn’t just that she’s looks odd against the uniformed crowds of uniformity. She approaches things differently, whether its flying, playing ball, or playing with the orchestra:
“It’s very sad
(cue violin),
but this small dog
does not fit in.”
Her long journey takes her to Doggywood where we’ll be quick to notice how well she will fit in. And she will, but someone else doesn’t. She feels empathetic, approaching the odd dog out to tell them they’re not alone, “I feel for you. I once was an outsider too.” This where an unexpected lesson comes in…and one of tremendous value. This dog doesn’t feel like an outsider. They just love standing out from the crowd. “Stand tall. Be proud.”
“That dog is right.
It’s plain to see
there’s nothing wrong
with being me.”
She returns home. And guess what?! The other dogs are glad she’s back! Scanning the pages were already amusing, but now there are little touches of difference to spy. The other dogs, missing their Odd Dog Out, made them appreciate difference. They’ve begun to look and act different in their own way.
I love that our Odd Dog Out didn’t have to really leave her home to find acceptance; that she could be herself where she is.
The words and illustrations are playful: ‘sad violin’; the sequence of dogs as swimmer, sailor, soldier, and scout; the yellow submarine; the different sports and modes of transportation. Biddulph sets up a culture of a place (that will feel familiar to older readers) and in doing so, it doesn’t criticize the masses for all looking alike. You can imagine them being comfortable, or that it makes sense to them. You can also imagine how our protagonist must feel; and then how much better she feels upon returning and seeing that her willingness to be herself inspired others to perhaps explore ideas of being different—all while being home. I mean, the punk dog is awesome. And the one that channels Coco Chanel?
The final double-spread of dogs are silly and fun, but do not miss that particularly sweet final page. Odd Dog Out is an entertaining story with an unexpectedly strong message of pride, love and community. It’s one you’ll not want to miss out one. Really, don’t be the odd one out this time and not read this picture book.
January 13, 2020
In the last few years, authors, illustrators, and publishers have given us so many delightful books that help children grow in comfort, and maybe even celebrate, their unique selves, gifts, and personalities. While many of my posts this month will center around growth mindset books or activities, I’m taking a brief break from that today to bring you a “new to us” book that celebrates being yourself: Odd Dog Out by Rob Biddulph.
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Part search-and-find, part wonderfully rhythmic and rhyming read-aloud, and part inspirational story, Odd Dog Out is a delightful story to read with young ones and encourage them to follow their own interests, or as the book states, “dance to a different beat” or “whistle to a different tune.” At first, Odd Dog seems content being herself… Until she appears to start to notice just how different she is from the other dogs. She dresses differently, flies differently, and plays differently. Forlorn and alone, Odd Dog decides to leave her hometown behind and travel until she finds a place where she feels she fits in better.
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Upon finding her new “happy” home and feeling as if she fits in perfectly, she meets another odd dog out, and this odd dog reminds her of the power of standing out, standing tall, and being herself. Her joy in being unique eventually rubs off on her neighbors, helping them gain comfort in breaking the mold and following their own hearts.
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I don’t know about you, but I strongly believe this is a message all of our children need to hear, multiple times, in multiple ways, from multiple people. Thank you, Rob Biddulph, for providing us with another tool to help children begin to truly believe in the power of being themselves.
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A big thank you to the publisher for sharing this book with our family in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions of this book are my own. Publishers recommend for ages 4-8.
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If you liked this book, check out:
— All the Ways to Be Smart by Davina Bell
— Remarkably You by Pat Zietlow Miller
— A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
— The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
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Part search-and-find, part wonderfully rhythmic and rhyming read-aloud, and part inspirational story, Odd Dog Out is a delightful story to read with young ones and encourage them to follow their own interests, or as the book states, “dance to a different beat” or “whistle to a different tune.” At first, Odd Dog seems content being herself… Until she appears to start to notice just how different she is from the other dogs. She dresses differently, flies differently, and plays differently. Forlorn and alone, Odd Dog decides to leave her hometown behind and travel until she finds a place where she feels she fits in better.
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Upon finding her new “happy” home and feeling as if she fits in perfectly, she meets another odd dog out, and this odd dog reminds her of the power of standing out, standing tall, and being herself. Her joy in being unique eventually rubs off on her neighbors, helping them gain comfort in breaking the mold and following their own hearts.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I don’t know about you, but I strongly believe this is a message all of our children need to hear, multiple times, in multiple ways, from multiple people. Thank you, Rob Biddulph, for providing us with another tool to help children begin to truly believe in the power of being themselves.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
A big thank you to the publisher for sharing this book with our family in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions of this book are my own. Publishers recommend for ages 4-8.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you liked this book, check out:
— All the Ways to Be Smart by Davina Bell
— Remarkably You by Pat Zietlow Miller
— A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
— The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
March 25, 2018
Ο Biddulph (γνωστός από το Γκρρρ… μια ιστορία για τη φιλία) διηγείται την αστεία αλλά και συγχρόνως ευαίσθητη ιστορία της πολύχρωμης σκυλίτσας που αποφάσισε να κάνει ένα ταξίδι μακρινό για να μάθει τη σημασία του να είναι κανείς διαφορετικός και την αξία της φιλίας και της αποδοχής. Όμως αν παρατηρήσεις λίγο πιο προσεχτικά θα δεις κάτι που δύσκολα θα μπορέσεις να προσπεράσεις. Η εικονογράφηση του βιβλίου, ειδικά στις τελευταίες σελίδες, παίζει με την έννοια του διαφορετικού, «χτυπώντας» ευαίσθητα σημεία κάθε γονιού που έχει μπει στον κόπο να «την ψάξει» λίγο παραπάνω με την ποπ κουλτούρα. Όσοι είναι φαν π.χ. του Bowie, δύσκολα θα χάσουν την εικόνα του σκύλου με την φούξια χαίτη, το περίεργο μακιγιάζ στο μάτι και την ηλεκτρική κιθάρα στο χέρι. Η σκυλίτσα που κάπως φέρνει στην Carmen Miranda ή ο σκύλος που σου φαίνεται ότι μοιάζει με τον μίμο Marcel Marceau είναι μερικοί μόνο από τους χαρακτήρες που επέλεξε να δημιουργήσει ο Biddulph (κάποιοι όπως ο πραγματικός Bowie, ο Elvis Presley και ο Paul Stanley των Kiss δεν μπήκαν καν στο βιβλίο για τον φόβο των μηνύσεων) ίσως για να τονίσει το γεγονός πως το να θεωρείται κανείς διαφορετικός δεν είναι μεμπτό και πως ακόμα και άνθρωποι διάσημοι που στο παρελθόν χαρακτηρίστηκαν περίεργοι ακριβώς επειδή δεν έμοιαζαν με κανέναν άλλο, κατόρθωσαν με τον τρόπο τους, τη ζωή τους, τη δουλειά τους να αφήσουν το σημάδι τους ανεξίτηλο και να αποτελούν πηγές έμπνευσης για πολλούς άλλους. Τα παιδιά σίγουρα δεν γνωρίζουν ποια είναι αυτή η κυρία με τα φρούτα στο κεφάλι ή ο μίμος με το άσπρο πρόσωπο, ο Biddulph όμως μέσα από το «Ξεχωρίζω και Σφυρίζω» τους δίνει μια πολύ καλή ευκαιρία να τους μάθουν και να ψάξουν παρέα με τους γονείς ή τους δασκάλους τους ακόμα περισσότερα πράγματα για αυτούς.
http://kokkinialepou.gr/xechorizo-ke-...
http://kokkinialepou.gr/xechorizo-ke-...
March 28, 2020
Odd Dog Out is a boldly colored picture book of hundreds of dachshunds, with one in particular who stands out in the crowd. Instead of dressing like everyone else (bowler hat and pin striped suit or striped rugby shirt), this dachshund wears a rainbow striped scarf wrapped around her body with a matching hat. She runs in a soccer game instead of kicking, flies low in a glider instead of high in a hot air balloon, and plays the guitar instead of the violin. She decides to leave the city and walks until she finds "Doggywood". In Doggywood everyone looks like her except for one pup whistling a tune and wearing a cap and sweater. The outsider states that he likes standing out in a crowd and she realizes that she does, too. So she hops on a "K9 Air plane" and flies home where she is warmly greeted and finds numerous others dressed differently. Although originally published in the UK, the cities, New Bark City and Doggywood, have features of New York City and Hollywood, along with British accents such as Buckingham Palace guard dogs. The rhyming text has a great rhythm to it and although most of the dogs look identical on the pages, if you look closely at the sailors, their ears are flying up, down, and sideways. This is a light hearted look at fitting in or standing out and recognizing that it's okay to do either one. Some sections of the illustrations seem almost hidden from view (two orchestra members telling her not to go) and might be seen only on repeat viewings. The illustrations are very appealing- bold colors, cute expressions on the dachshunds, and adorable costumes. Recommended for preschool and early elementary students.
December 23, 2019
On a busy city street, dachshunds are busy going about their day - some in business suits, others driving in cars, still more in stripped jersey's playing soccer. Turn the page and there are more dachshunds involved in more activities. What's the most noticeable thing about them? Members of each group look exactly alike. And then there is one who's different: "Someone on this/ busy street/ is dancing to a/ different beat." Dressed in colorful stripes, matching hat, and headphone she not only stands out, she also feels lonely and left out. So, she sets off looking for a place to belong. And finds Doggywood, where everyone looks just like her. Well, almost everyone: "Somebody this/ afternoon/ is whistling a/ different tune." But this is a dog who loves being different, and so should our Odd Dog, he tells her. Suddenly she realizes "That dog is right/ It's plain to see/ there's nothing wrong/ with being me." Odd Dog immediately heads home and is welcomed back with open arms - it seems she was missed in her absence. And best of all, they are all dancing to a different beat now. too. Teaching kids to have the courage to be who they are isn't an easy task in the face of some much pressure to conform. This is a book that tackles this problem head on even while distancing the issue by using dogs instead of kids and all done in catchy light verse, that harmonize perfectly with the brightly humorous illustrations. My kids love this book and we've read it many times over this last week. I suspect we'll be reading it many more times.
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