丽莎想要一只狗

by Helga Bansch

Every child wants a dog at some point. Here's the story of little girl who figures out how to get what she wants!

Genres: Picture Books, Dogs, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction, Family, German Literature

Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read so many books such as this. I’ve always wanted dogs my whole life, and I was fortunate to have a dog for about nine years when I was well into adulthood. When I was a kid a family friend gave me The Traveling Bird (it didn’t help), and as an adult I’ve read many books including ones similar to this book, one titled identically: I Want A Dog (well, sans exclamation point) and one nearly identically titled: I Really Want a Dog. There have been others too, but these are the three books that came immediately to mind. (And I just found a couple others for my dangerously sagging to-read shelf.)

Like the Lisa in this book, I wanted a dog and lived in an apartment. We weren’t allowed to have dogs. In Lisa’s case her parents insist that their apartment is too small for a dog.

Lisa seemed so believable and I really appreciated her resourcefulness. I really loved how the dogs, and particularly how Rollo, was shown, at least through Lisa’s eyes. I adored the ending. This is an incredibly sweet, but not overly sweet, story. The last few pages, especially the final page, had me near (happy) tears, and put me in serious need of a dog fix!

The pictures are adorable. I especially loved the illustrations of all the dogs and dog objects. They’re fantastic! I would have looked at them again & again & again if I’d read this book, or had it read to me, when I was a child.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in Switzerland as Lisa will einen Hund, this delightful picture-book follows a young dog-lover named Lisa, whose many attempts to convince her parents to let her have a dog are invariably met with a negative response. "Our apartment is too small for a dog," her parents tell her, so Lisa sets out to satisfy her canine craving in another way...

Austrian artist Helga Bansch's artwork is charming: quirky, endearing and expressive. Lisa's emotional vacillations, from consciously persuasive virtue to petulant anger, come across very well. I appreciated the heroine's creative solution to a difficult problem, and recommend I Want a Dog! to all young readers (and their parents) who long for a pet they cannot have.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this book, but the story arc felt rushed for some reason. Maybe something got lost in translation since this appears to be a translated title.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Lisa's creative solution to her parents opposition regarding her desire for a dog. (Some dogs live quite happily in an apartment, though her parents seem unaware of this.) But Lisa's resolution seems to come out of nowhere, without foreshadowing or formulation of the plan that Lisa implements.

The illustrations are quite lovely, though Lisa's bright orange hair is a bit too much. Also, it looks like Lisa kicks the dog on the page with her dog dreams, and where it says "Rollo was smart" he appears to be wearing an old-fashioned dunce cap.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute pictures, front cover AND back, introduce us to the loveable breeds of dogs. Each one looks winsome but not excessively cute. (That's a good sign.)

When little Lisa wants a dog, and she does her best to persuade everyone, what will happen?

An ingenious, happy solution -- that's what happens. Whew, such relief.

FIVE STARS to author and illustrator, Helga Bansch.

[Kary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think a lot of kids will relate to wanting a pet so bad, but parents saying no.

[Darin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the illustrations, and I loved that a solution was found, even if it wasn't what was expected.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute storyline

Illustrations were not as vivid or smooth as I’d like to have seen

Nice read aloud

Recommended

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Persistence!

Lisa wants a dog!
"Our apartment is too small for a dog." is the reframe....

Lisa finds a way and figures it out.

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl wants a dog but can't convince her parents that she should have one. Their apartment is just too small! Her problem is solved when she borrows a dog to walk and play with.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful tale of finding a way to get what you want within the evil constraints that your parents set for you. Lisa wants a dog, but her parents say that their apartment is too small. Lisa asks constantly for a dog, does her chores nicely to get a dog, has tantrums to get a dog, and reasons with her parents to get a dog. Still, she has no dog. But on her own, she finds a compromise, a solution that will make everyone happy. Though this is not always possible, I like that it shows how patience and creativity can be rewarded. I don't like that she puts out signs with her address without her parents' permission, but hey, it's just a book. With fun illustrations and a short, but engaging narrative, our girls really enjoyed this story.

[Bridget R. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

More than anything, Lisa wants a dog. She lets her parents know numerous times. Their answer is always the same--their apartment is too small for a dog. Lisa is not one to give up. After some thought, she advertises and gets a dog friend named Rollo.

What I thought: Lisa is quite a creative girl. I never would have thought of borrowing a dog. The illustrations are great, especially the different dog breeds.

[Rhaynes5]

I Want dog is a great book that I believe every child will be able to relate to. Every child wants to have a dog and some parents are just not willing. Just like in the book I'm sure every child has tried to devise a plan to get a dog from their parents. If not every child has tried to get something their parents said they could not have. This book is so cute and relate able it will definitely be apart of my classroom library.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The illustrations are amusing. But this is about a little girl who wants a dog but can't have one because her parents think their apartment is too small. She wheedles and then tantrums--to no avail. Though this book addresses a real issue--there must be plenty of children who want dogs but can't have them--the solution posed is not in fact a realistic one and that makes the book ultimately silly and unsatisfying and of no use as a help to children in similar circumstances.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like books where children exhibit the pluck to think outside the box to solve a problem. Lisa's parents rightly claim their apartment is too small for a dog. So she goes about finding a way to feed her need in a different way. Splendid.

[Deanna Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could see using this book to help students to devise plans or even when beginning to write persuasive essays. Students could see what they might add to persuade Lisa's parents to buy her a dog. This is also great for students to learn to predict and enhance those skills.

[Michelle Nero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa wants a dog. Mom and Dad say the apartment is too small. She tried being extra good. She tried being extra bad. In the end, Lisa came up with a brilliant idea! Great book to share with students about problem solving and "thinking outside the box" or small apartment. :)

[CaitlinTobin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What child does not ask his/her parent for a dog? The character in this picture book is dog crazy and figures out the perfect way to have a dog and keep her parents happy. I love the fact that the Lisa creates a solution to her dog dilemma without being bratty, rude, spoiled, obnoxious...

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute kids book about a little girl whose parents won't allow her to get a dog. Instead of giving up, she creatively solves her problem in a way that makes everyone happy.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa comes up with the best solution for the age-old "I want a dog" dilemma that I have ever seen.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! Creative problem solving, a smart and cute kid, and dogs. What more could I ask?

[Briana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about a clever child who is determined to have her own dog. <3

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a favorite of Erik's, who desperately wants a dog. I like the clever solution that this story offers up (and the fun illustrations too).

[Melanie Swider Wenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love how the character thinks "out of the box" at the end of the story!

[Laura Komos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lisa has a creative way of solving the problem of living in an apartment that is "too small for a dog," as her parents tell her. Cute story!

[Lizzie]

I picked this up because I was super tickled that it was about a girl named Lisa (so close!) who hopes a dog will fit in her apartment. GOOD NEWS, LISA! (I got a dog not too long after.)

[Magila · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Pretty artwork.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has written a sweet story of persistence and creative problem solving. The best part is the end!

[Kira Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that teaches compromise and highlights problem solving!