Claude the Dog: A Christmas Story

by Dick Gackenbach

Claude gives away all his Christmas presents to his down-and-out friend, Bummer, but receives an even better present from his young master.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Dogs, Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Holiday

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Dick Gackenbach, the illustrator of all the Adam Joshua Capers, is also the author-illustrator of more than a score of books of his own. Mr. Gackenbach lives in Washington Depot, Connecticut.

Reviews

[Diane in Australia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply adorable Christmas story.

One of the books in my daughter's Christmas collection.

5 Stars = I love it for sentimental reasons.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one to my class and HAD TO TRY REALLY HARD NOT TO CRY WHILE DOING SO! Which I failed to do so I then gave a long boring lecture on why I was crying. Not my best teaching moment. Still, this a great book.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got my childhood copy from my mother this week and I forgot how much I loved this book as a child! Saving it for my grandkids!!! 😍❤️

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this was still in print. See if you can find it in your local library or used book store. Claude the Dog teaches generosity and awareness of those who have far less. Claude is NOT content to merely feel sorry for others, but puts his feelings into ACTION, and does so sacrificially. Another BIG favorite in our home, no matter how many years have passed since we first started reading it. The illustrations are simple, but wonderfully done, effectively evoking the intended emotions of the story. Claude is a hero!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I️ first discovered when I️ was very little at my local library. I️ remembered the illustrations more than the story but when I️ saw the book, it brought me
Back to my childhood. I️ snapped up the book on Etsy and I️ have read it to my children. We have rescue cats and dog so it opened up a wonderful dialogue for the kids about helping those that are less fortunate. So, so happy to have found this book after 40 years!

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claude, a Bassett hound who has been fortunate in receiving gifts on Christmas morning, meets Bummer, a homeless dog who has nothing at all. Claude learns that the real joy comes in giving when he chooses to share his gifts with his less fortunate friend.

I feel that if this book were written today, the little stray would have been adopted into Claude's family.

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes this book bugs me, but at other times its a great story of love and friendship. Very cute pictures.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this cute story is always a favorite as I begin yet another Holiday Season! It is the epitome of Christ-like love ~ following in the Savior’s way!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We love you, Claude"

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet book. It reminds me of a more reasonable version of The Giving Tree It sure offered a great start to discussions about compassion and giving with very young children.

[Andrew Royse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a long tradition in my family and I absolutely love it! It teaches kids the importance of giving to others and being thankful for the things we do have.

[Jonathan O'Konek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply a wonderful book with a powerful message!

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute feel good story. Would have been even better if Claude’s owner noticed Bummer and they found him a home too but I guess you can’t have everything. Still a great book. 4 stars.

[Jean Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple and beloved picture book. We read and reread and read again every advent and Christmas.

[samara rocha · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Xmas book of the year!!

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first introduction to this story was at a family gathering. My sister gave her small children props to dramatize the story. I found a very tattered copy at a library booksale and snatched it up. I like to use this story every year to the pre-school crowd. This year I used two plush dogs, and fabric ball, a small blanket, and a pillow.

Children respond very well to story telling (especially if there are props). This adds needed variety to a story time. It is okay to read the story through to the group first and then dramatize it. You'll have their attention through both tellings. It is a very quick story.

Claude gets a toy, a blanket, and a pillow for Christmas. He shows them to his friend Bummer (who is a stray dog). He ends up giving all his presents to Bummer and going back to the house to his family--his best gift (or so he says).

[Asho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although it's not yet Thanksgiving, I had to break my own self-imposed "No Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving" rule when I saw this book on display at the library. A Christmas book featuring a basset hound! What could be better?! It's a short, sweet story about a basset hound with a loving home who gives his three gifts to a homeless dog who happens by. It's a good lesson about the spirit of Christmas, and I love the adorable basset hound who is perfectly basset-y in every drawing. The drawings are very of their era (1970s, apparently) but that just makes the book even more charming.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it's after Christmas, this one had such a nice story about giving that I had to get it out. I'm not sure how old it is, so the illustrations are either retro or of their time, either way, I thought they fit well with the simple story of how it's better to give than to receive and that sometimes what we get isn't any better than what we've got already.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite book of all time is a Christmas story of a dog giving his clothes to someone else who needed it. It shows how the season is about giving more than receiving! The students can write about ways they can give and maybe as a class, donate goods to other children who will need food or blankets for this winter! It is small and cute, but great to have for a class!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a classic Christmas story - tradition for our family. It is about a dog named Claude that shares all of his new Christmas gifts with his lonely, homeless friend named "Bummer". He knows that his best gifts are his family. Too cute!

[Margaret Boling · Rating 4 out of 5]

12/9/2016 ** I wanted a book about the tradition of giving, rather than receiving, for Christmas. I also needed something that wasn't overtly religious or "santa-y," because I have a significant portion of students who don't observe Christmas. Though a bit short, this book was perfect.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my all-time favorite children's book, simply because it was the first book I read all by myself. Of course, it is also a wonderful story.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good book to show that helping someone out is a gift. Very good example of sharing.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful, heart-warming story of a dog who shares his Christmas gifts. Good read-aloud with wonderful drawings

[Vickie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good kids book.

[Sydney McClure · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be great on teaching good behavior. It's about about friendship and sharing. It's a sweet book, too. It will show students it's not about stuff, but about family.

[Emily Rosbottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short, very cute book about sharing, especially around the holidays. Excellent to use when students are getting a little restless or selfish. Cute pictures as well!

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book from my childhood. It is a simple, sweet story about giving and choosing kind during the holidays. I am so happy that my friend Margie gave me this book. She is just like Claude!

[Lauren Sanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very inspiring. I read this in my Spanish class and it was really good.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I thought this story was sad since the boy gave Claude his presents and then just left him!

It's the perfect Christmas story!