When Lucy Goes Out Walking: A Puppy's First Year

by Ashley Wolff

Meet Lucy, a little puppy full of bounce and curiosity. Lucy loves taking walks; it's especially fun to greet the neighborhood children and play with other dogs. Whether it's to race down a snowy hill in February or frolic in the grass in May, Lucy never says no to a stroll outdoors. Come December, Lucy's enjoyed every season, and she's almost all grown up! In lyrical language and through endearing illustrations, Ashley Wolff traces the growth of one adorable puppy over the course of an adventure filled year.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Dogs, Storytime, Poetry

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all Lucy is an adorable border collie or border collie mix who takes us into what it is like to be a puppy learning to be with her master as he takes her out. Each two pages showcases a month as well as activity that you may be able to do within that month so that way children are also learning about the seasons in an indirect fashion.

But mostly the book is about the calendar months and the way the illustrations are it is like the reader is given a chance to hold the calendar page before flipping. Each flipping corner has the month's name whether it is the previous month or the next month while it definitely caught the eye of my niece who was asking about the various names so definitely a good starter into learning the months for children.

I wouldn't really recommend this book unless a child already does know their calendar months since it may confuse them with all the month names going around. Otherwise if it doesn't seem to bother them or you it can be a great book to enjoy, especially if children watch the puppy grow month-by-month.

[littlemiao · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little book that follows little puppy Lucy through a year of walks as she grows up. I really enjoy Ashley Wolff's art. Her portrayal of animals is so sweet and loving.

[Anna Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with Nayeli on 3 jan 2024

Each month Lucy goes walking as the seasons change from snow to rain to breezes and then back to snow. It's more poetry than prose in this story of a dog growing from a puppy into an adult dog.

[Asho · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me immediately of a childhood favorite, Chicken Soup With Rice. Much like that book, it takes the reader through the twelve months of the year. Each month has a little poem about something seasonal that the lead character (in this book, Lucy, a growing puppy) does. This is a good choice for learning about months and seasons. Lucy is very cute. This wasn't my son's favorite of the library books he picked out on this particular trip, but he enjoyed it and had me read it a few times.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written in rhyme with a repetitive line at the start of each page. The book is about a dog named Lucy. Lucy starts out as a puppy in the book and you follow her month to month and watch her grow. You also get to learn what Lucy likes to do and you get to see what she does on all her different walks. Really good illustrations. I also really like how each month has its own sepereate page.

[Dodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet book follows puppy Lucy through one year, month by month, as she grows bigger and smarter. Wolff's bright and detailed gouache illustrations build a story behind the story, showing the change of seasons along with the different activities that accompany them - kite-flying in April, selling lemonade in August, and throwing snowballs in December. A great read-aloud.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just wonderful. We experience each month of the year with Lucy, watch her grow from a tiny puppy to an adult dog. The art glows and the vivid colors give the feel of each month's special pleasures, and I like that the bottom corners of each double page spread show the names of the month past and the month to come as if you are turning a calendar. Another great book from Wolff.

[Phuong Dao · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is talking about what Lucy were doing when she walks through each month. Each month has different weather and no matter what Lucy always enjoy being outside doing thing with her master. This book is a very excellent book to teach children about the season of the year.

[Romelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in rhyme with repetitive line: When Lucy goes out walking...
Follows the growth of a puppy through the months of the year.
Sweet, playful, poetic.
Illustrated in soft colors and textures.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cute story for Dog and Bear. I love the part where Dog is bouncing on the bed and Bear has to prepare for Dog's bounce off the bed.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learn about the order of the months, different seasons and see Lucy grow. You can also ask the children what month they were born and have them raise their hand during that time in the story.

[Jeanette Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute picture book. It describes in verse, each month of the year as seen through a puppy's eyes.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to help children learn the months of the year.

[Class 305 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to discuss the months of year and what the weather is like. I love that its focused around a dog too.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good poems for each month and I love Ashley Wolff's style of illustration.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy the puppy shines in this story in rhyme that the little ones will love.

[Janae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each page has a poem about that month beginning with "When Lucy goes out walking..." and highlights some activities/features of that month.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute and I love how you see her grow older each month. Great art

[L · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute book about a puppy growing but my son wasn't entertained.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

super adorable book that goes month to month when a puppy goes out to play to when she's grown. Kids loved it.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

months of the year