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The Dolores Series #1
Duncan And Dolores
Dolores learns to curb some of her more smothering tendencies and wins the affection of her new pet cat, Duncan.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 16, 2019
Duncan and Dolores by Barbara Samuels is about a young girl and her sister who adopt a cat. The young girl named Dolores is very excited, but when they get the cat, the cat runs away from her. Dolores keeps on trying, but Duncan is scared of her. Then Dolores gets mad because Duncan favors the older sister Faye. So Dolores decides to ignore Duncan. So Dolores ignores Duncan, and that intrigues his attention. Duncan then tries to get Dolores' attention and Duncan finally likes Dolores.
I give this book 5/5 stars. This is one of my favorite childhood books, and I love everything about the story. It is relatable to kids, because most kids have a pet like a cat or a dog, and sometimes kids don't know boundaries with their pets. I definitely didn't, I treated my childhood dog like my stuffed animal, just like Dolores treated Duncan. It is a cute and silly story that any child will love.
I give this book 5/5 stars. This is one of my favorite childhood books, and I love everything about the story. It is relatable to kids, because most kids have a pet like a cat or a dog, and sometimes kids don't know boundaries with their pets. I definitely didn't, I treated my childhood dog like my stuffed animal, just like Dolores treated Duncan. It is a cute and silly story that any child will love.
September 25, 2012
Dolores is four years old. So is Duncan. Duncan, however, is a cat, and he does not exactly appreciate a four-year-old human's boisterous nature. Dolores, with the help of her big sister, must learn that patience and gentleness is the best way to welcome a new cat into the home. This would be a fine read-aloud to teach young children about appropriate behavior around pets.
February 15, 2008
Beginning of Dolores series. Cute story of learning to be friends (with a cat!). My 4-year old is big fan of Dolores.
December 15, 2021
Points this book makes about cats that you will already know if you have ever had a cat:
1. Young children can be loud and unpredictable and unintentionally rough with cats.
2. Cats do not like this.
3. Cats are more affectionate when ignored.
Inadvertent point this book makes about interpersonal relationships:
If people find you overbearing you may be more successful at getting what you want from them by being aloof.
Point of this book:
???
1. Young children can be loud and unpredictable and unintentionally rough with cats.
2. Cats do not like this.
3. Cats are more affectionate when ignored.
Inadvertent point this book makes about interpersonal relationships:
If people find you overbearing you may be more successful at getting what you want from them by being aloof.
Point of this book:
???
April 6, 2020
I thought this book was very good because Dolores was begging her mom because she really wanted this cat named Duncan, but when she got home with Duncan, he was scared of Dolores. Then at the end, Duncan did like her.
May 26, 2021
Dolores' style of love is a bit terrifying for her new cat Duncan. A great story from the mid 80's about learning to love your pet in the way it needs, and experiencing the joy of its love in return. Also - very popular with my nearly 3 year old.
April 26, 2022
My favorite childhood book. I'm in my thirties now but bought myself a copy as my childhood version was lost over 2 decades ago. The art is abysmal...still there's something comforting and endearing about this book.
December 13, 2019
A cute little tale about winning over your cat, the kids love it because it is comical to them.
December 21, 2019
This is a simple book to teach children to treat cats as independent pets.
January 5, 2021
Delores has to learn not to smother her cat! My kids really liked this one. Ages 3+
February 1, 2022
Made me laugh aloud!
Read
August 7, 2022Now if only I could say, WATSON REALLY LIKES ME!
January 27, 2022
I get the idea about giving pets space is an important one (lifelong cat owner here - I definitely get it!). I just didn't really like how it was handled here. Dolores is just too... everything. Yes, I get it - she's 4 and I know that her emotions are accurately enthusiastic and thus very relatable. It just felt like she never really learned how to deal with Duncan. Like she's ignoring him, not actually giving him space (subtle difference, I know, but it is a difference).
Not bad - I just think I've just read better books about getting new pets.
Not bad - I just think I've just read better books about getting new pets.
May 6, 2015
Personal Reaction: This book is kind of in between beginning to read and transitional. It has a lot of illustrations that describe the story but also has some pages with more than 3 sentences on them and even some dialogue. The illustrations are pretty funny and story includes a good lesson.
Read aloud: I think this would be a good read aloud for a kindergarten classroom. This would be good to read aloud because there is a lot of action happening and it would teach the students how to properly treat an animal or their pets. This would be a perfect book to read for example if the class was getting a class pet, or they were about to take a field trip to the zoo.
Independent Reading: I think this would be good for a first grader to read independently. Its a great way to start getting students used to reading and understanding dialogue.
The theme is the most important literary element in this story. Once Dolores stops pestering the cat, the cat begins to like her. This book teaches children what things are not meant for animals to do.
Read aloud: I think this would be a good read aloud for a kindergarten classroom. This would be good to read aloud because there is a lot of action happening and it would teach the students how to properly treat an animal or their pets. This would be a perfect book to read for example if the class was getting a class pet, or they were about to take a field trip to the zoo.
Independent Reading: I think this would be good for a first grader to read independently. Its a great way to start getting students used to reading and understanding dialogue.
The theme is the most important literary element in this story. Once Dolores stops pestering the cat, the cat begins to like her. This book teaches children what things are not meant for animals to do.
February 11, 2015
Personal Reaction - I like this book because it's very easy to read for young children and the illustrations are like young children's drawings. Also, as the main character is young child, children will easily sympathized with her feelings and actions.
Purposes-
Read aloud to K-1 children for several potential purposes:
- Dolores wanted to play with the cat, Duncan. However, whenever she wanted to do something with him, he tried to run away from her. This was because Dolores did not known how to play with a cat. However, by looking at how Faye played with Duncan, Dolores realized that the cat needed his space and she should not make him feel afraid. From this story, children would learn how to behave in playing with animals as well as would know the importance of waiting until they are ready to play together.
- The illustrations show facial expressions and that allows children to have better understanding of changes in situation.
Purposes-
Read aloud to K-1 children for several potential purposes:
- Dolores wanted to play with the cat, Duncan. However, whenever she wanted to do something with him, he tried to run away from her. This was because Dolores did not known how to play with a cat. However, by looking at how Faye played with Duncan, Dolores realized that the cat needed his space and she should not make him feel afraid. From this story, children would learn how to behave in playing with animals as well as would know the importance of waiting until they are ready to play together.
- The illustrations show facial expressions and that allows children to have better understanding of changes in situation.
January 7, 2019
This is such an adorable book! The story follows a little girl named Dolores who gets a cat named Duncan and will try to do anything for his attention. Duncan is overwhelmed by Dolores and usually ends up hiding or running from her. Faye, Dolores older sister, sets a good example by not pestering Duncan. When Dolores follows Faye's example, Duncan finally begins to warm up to Dolores.
Ages: Early readers (Daycare/Pre-K to First Grade)
Rated 4 out of 5 stars for:
- Cute illustrations (watercolor?) and good use of typography
- Good depiction of excited children with a new pet
- Very good use of playing on reader's emotions (feel sad for Dolores, but understand where the cat is coming from)
- Encourages kids to be patient and gentle with new pets/let them come to you
- Easy to understand and follow story
Would especially recommend this to young kids who have or are interested in getting a new pet!
Ages: Early readers (Daycare/Pre-K to First Grade)
Rated 4 out of 5 stars for:
- Cute illustrations (watercolor?) and good use of typography
- Good depiction of excited children with a new pet
- Very good use of playing on reader's emotions (feel sad for Dolores, but understand where the cat is coming from)
- Encourages kids to be patient and gentle with new pets/let them come to you
- Easy to understand and follow story
Would especially recommend this to young kids who have or are interested in getting a new pet!
April 13, 2013
Dolores gets a new pet cat, Duncan, but they find themselves fighting rather than getting along as friends. Dolores smothers Duncan a lot and he runs away from her in fear, when she calls for him he hides the best he can. Dolores learns to control her smothering urges and they find themselves to be pretty good friends by the end.
The book is appropriate for ages 3+
I absolutely loved this book as a kid. I have grown up with cats and this was a little lesson for me, and I always laughed at the silly things she would do to Duncan. This would be a great read for any kids with cats, maybe they will learn a few things from Ms. Dolores.
The book is appropriate for ages 3+
I absolutely loved this book as a kid. I have grown up with cats and this was a little lesson for me, and I always laughed at the silly things she would do to Duncan. This would be a great read for any kids with cats, maybe they will learn a few things from Ms. Dolores.
June 10, 2015
What a fun Reading Rainbow book! If you are a cat lover then you will TOTALLY understand this book, and if you don't like cats 'as much' you'll still get a laugh out of this little girl wanting to be friends with her newly adopted 5 year old cat. Her older sister keeps telling her that Duncan doesn't want to play dress up, or play tea etc And so when the older sister sits still and is quiet Duncan comes to her. When Dolores starts to ignore Duncan it's only then that he wants to be in her life... such is the life of a cat! (hehe) In the end they are buddies! Until Dolores gets loud again. My 3 year old granddaughter giggled throughout this story.
August 26, 2014
I ended with this, because I had some older children sitting in on storytime and it is one I remembered liking and using when I was at Shepherd. Even the young ones sat still. It was a small group of 8 so they were all able to see the involved pictures fairly well. I think I also used this with my youngest when we got our cats 6-7 years ago.
4 year old Dolores decided she wants a 4 year old cat, but has trouble not scaring Duncan. 8/7/12
Chosen by a boy in the preschool story time
4 year old Dolores decided she wants a 4 year old cat, but has trouble not scaring Duncan. 8/7/12
Chosen by a boy in the preschool story time
February 4, 2014
For the adult, the story is hilarious. A little girl who is too loving toward animals, thus scaring her new cat away. There is an older sister who tries to explain this to her which adds extra humor.
For the child, the story is cute and also teaches that you have to be calm and quiet with animals to have them stay around you. They would miss the sarcasm of the older sister I think. It's a valuable lesson, though, for how to behave around pets.
For the child, the story is cute and also teaches that you have to be calm and quiet with animals to have them stay around you. They would miss the sarcasm of the older sister I think. It's a valuable lesson, though, for how to behave around pets.
January 9, 2026
Hilarious story of a young child who is trying to play with the family cat, but keeps inadvertently scaring him away. Her older sister Faye warns Dolores to be gentle and quiet around Duncan, but rambunctious Dolores keeps scaring hims away. Humorous color paintings of the precocious Dolores and the wary Duncan illustrate the book.
July 20, 2010
This book is completely adorable! I remember when my parents read this to me when I was liitle I would laugh so hard because it reminded me of my little sister and our cat. (Who was aboslutely terrified of her.)
May 8, 2014
Adorable. Dolores loves Duncan SO MUCH. Too much. Scarily much. Poor Duncan!
A sweet, funny story of a girl and her new cat. Very good for kids who need to understand how to be quiet and gentle with pets!
A sweet, funny story of a girl and her new cat. Very good for kids who need to understand how to be quiet and gentle with pets!
June 14, 2008
My daughter is soooo Dolores!
July 26, 2008
A classic story about the loud, flaboyant friend, and the quieter soft-spoken one.
February 15, 2011
This book is especially funny when you do the voices and act it out while you're reading. I can't tell you how many times I read this book to my little sister when we were young.
July 8, 2011
covers pets and sisters, funny, sweet, meaningful. i was a lot like delores.
July 27, 2011
This book is AWESOME! One of my favorite kids books ever. Barbara Samuels got everything right.
August 13, 2016
Cats will be cats.
January 22, 2015
If you have a kid and a cat, this is a must read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews