The Biggest Parade

by Elizabeth Winthrop, Mark Ulriksen (Illustrator)

A perfect book for any holiday with a parade Harvey was excited when the mayor appointed him parade chairman. He loved parades. Fred did not.
Fred doesn't want to be in the parade--not in the beginning, not in the middle,and not in the end. Not on the baseball float, and certainly not dressed as thefounding dog of Bonesport. But Fred loves Harvey, so he wants to make himhappy. And even though Fred isn't in the biggest parade Bonesport has ever seen,he's proud to play the most important role!

Genres: Picture Books, Dogs

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

ELIZABETH WINTHROP ALSOP (www.elizabethwinthropalsop.com), is the author of over sixty works of fiction for all ages, including ISLAND JUSTICE and IN MY MOTHER'S HOUSE, both available as e-books.

DAUGHTER OF SPIES: Wartime Secrets, Family Lies, her memoir about her parents' love affair during World War II and her own childhood in 1950s Washington as the daughter of a famous journalist, will be published October 25, 2022 by Regal House.

Her short story, The Golden Darters, was selected by Best American Short Stories by Robert Stone and was recently read on SELECTED SHORTS by the renowned actress, Ann Dowd. She is the author of the memoir piece, Don't Knock Unless You're Bleeding; Growing Up in Cold War Washington.The daughter of Stewart Alsop, the political journalist, she divides her time between New York City and the Berkshires.

Her historical novel, COUNTING ON GRACE was chosen as a Notable Book of the Year by the American Library Association, the National Council of Social Studies, the International Reading Association and the Children’s Book Council among others. The novel has also been nominated for state book awards in Vermont, Virginia, Kentucky, Kansas, Missouri,Indiana, Hawaii and Arizona.

THE CASTLE IN THE ATTIC and its sequel, THE BATTLE FOR THE CASTLE, were nominated for twenty-three state book awards and are considered children’s fantasy classics.

Her popular picture books include DUMPY LA RUE, SHOES,DOG SHOW, SQUASHED IN THE MIDDLE and most recently, THE FIRST CHRISTMAS STOCKING and THE BIGGEST PARADE. Two of her recent books for older children are THE RED-HOT RATTOONS, a comic fantasy novel and DEAR MR. PRESIDENT, Letters from a Milltown Girl, a work of historical fiction set in western Massachusetts.

For more information, www.elizabethwinthrop.com

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fun.

[Asho · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book in a grocery store before I was even pregnant, but I knew I had to have it because, hello, it's about a basset hound! Fred the basset has a perfectly basset-y attitude, and I love the style of the illustrations.

ETA: I have read this to both kids, first S. by himself and then recently (2016) to L. after S. suggested it for her. She's very into dogs right now, so she loved it. He has always been amused by it, too.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harvey is in charge of Bonesport's 250th anniversary parade and he loves it. Frank, the dog, decidedly does not and refuses to participate in the parade. Which in the end turns out to be a good thing, because the entire town is in the parade and what's a parade if there isn't anyone to watch it? Frank is the best spectator ever.

Fun illustrations.

[Nanci · Rating 3 out of 5]

great story about how everyone can contribute in their own way.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A crazy premise that a town would throw a big parade but because everyone was in it there was no one to watch... except one dog who refused to be in the parade to be the biggest, loudest spectator.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a bad book. It is not a good book, either. The premise is fine; it is the actual story itself that needs improving. The illustrations, though, are quite good.