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Larry Gets Lost
Larry Gets Lost in Chicago
This time everyone's favorite wandering pooch blows through the Windy City with his owner Pete and Pete's family. After exploring the Magnificent Mile and scarfing down hot dogs at Navy Pier, the family boards a train at the railway station, losing sight of Larry when the hungr pup pursues a tasty snack... oh no! Will they ever be reunited? While Larry and his family set out to find each other, learn about Chicago's landmarks and cultural attractions including the Art Institute, Wrigley Field, Lake Michigan, Lincoln Park Zoo, and the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower). Filled with bright colors and retro illustrations, this book will enchant young readers as they explore another bustling metropolitan center with the precocious little Larry.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published July 13, 2010
53 people want to read
About the author
Michael Mullin
39 books137 followersFictional worlds can teach us so much about the one we live in. The experiences you bring back from the escape are what give stories their value. That's why you read, and that's why I read – and write.
My author career began with a twisted fairytale retelling about the unknown 8th dwarf which turned into a trilogy of such tales. Over the years I've received book awards and industry recognition for which I'm very grateful. I'm currently working on a business plan for an educational company that uses the fairytale trilogy, TaleSpins, as curriculum to teach things like empathy and anti-bullying.
I've written marketing materials for the merch divisions of Disney, DreamWorks, 20th Century Fox, and Universal, but I gave all that up because I was tired of selling people junk that was just going to end up in a landfill. Before I was a writer, I was a preschool teacher and college professor, two positions I found disconcertingly similar.
I live in Pasadena, CA with my wonderful wife Dani and our ridiculously cool dog Finn. Our twins, Sophie and Max are finishing up their college careers. I couldn’t be more proud and amazed. Even though I've been in California since 1996, all my sports allegiances remain in my native New England.
My author career began with a twisted fairytale retelling about the unknown 8th dwarf which turned into a trilogy of such tales. Over the years I've received book awards and industry recognition for which I'm very grateful. I'm currently working on a business plan for an educational company that uses the fairytale trilogy, TaleSpins, as curriculum to teach things like empathy and anti-bullying.
I've written marketing materials for the merch divisions of Disney, DreamWorks, 20th Century Fox, and Universal, but I gave all that up because I was tired of selling people junk that was just going to end up in a landfill. Before I was a writer, I was a preschool teacher and college professor, two positions I found disconcertingly similar.
I live in Pasadena, CA with my wonderful wife Dani and our ridiculously cool dog Finn. Our twins, Sophie and Max are finishing up their college careers. I couldn’t be more proud and amazed. Even though I've been in California since 1996, all my sports allegiances remain in my native New England.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 3, 2013
This was a fun trip down memory lane. It made me miss Chicago. We tried to find our old building in the reflection of the Bean.
My one issue with these books is that they are told in rhyme, which is great, but the rhymes continue onto the next page. Normally this would not be a problem, but there are little boxes with information about the attractions of the city throughout the book. So you must either stop and read the tidbits or come back to them after you finish the story. We chose to read them as we went, which made the story more difficult to follow.
But the great thing about the Larry series is that they do end up seeing so much of whatever city they visit. There are of course the tourist spots that most people associate with the city, but also places that often get overlooked.
I am really looking forward to reading the entire series.
My one issue with these books is that they are told in rhyme, which is great, but the rhymes continue onto the next page. Normally this would not be a problem, but there are little boxes with information about the attractions of the city throughout the book. So you must either stop and read the tidbits or come back to them after you finish the story. We chose to read them as we went, which made the story more difficult to follow.
But the great thing about the Larry series is that they do end up seeing so much of whatever city they visit. There are of course the tourist spots that most people associate with the city, but also places that often get overlooked.
I am really looking forward to reading the entire series.
April 22, 2022
My daughter’s college friend now lives in Chicago, and she got this for our little granddaughter, Rose, when she was born. Even though at 2-old-months Rose is still a little young to appreciate this, Grandma, here, delighted in reading it to her and I am sure that Rose will grow into the book as she gets older.
It’s a cute story about a boy and his family and the family dog, Larry, who visit the big city and along the way, Larry gets separated. The separation allows for the two parties to see most (perhaps all?) of the major attractions of Chicago in one day.
If you know Chicago well—and even if you don’t—on each page there are at least three (or more) places of interest and what makes them special written in small text apart from the main story. I learned quite a bit, although I had to go back and read it again on my own as I had to read it more quickly to hold the baby’s interest.
Was delighted to find out the author has written similar books on other cities! Check them out, perhaps he has written about your home town. Alas, for me, no book on Oklahoma City, yet, but maybe someday!
It’s a cute story about a boy and his family and the family dog, Larry, who visit the big city and along the way, Larry gets separated. The separation allows for the two parties to see most (perhaps all?) of the major attractions of Chicago in one day.
If you know Chicago well—and even if you don’t—on each page there are at least three (or more) places of interest and what makes them special written in small text apart from the main story. I learned quite a bit, although I had to go back and read it again on my own as I had to read it more quickly to hold the baby’s interest.
Was delighted to find out the author has written similar books on other cities! Check them out, perhaps he has written about your home town. Alas, for me, no book on Oklahoma City, yet, but maybe someday!
November 29, 2017
The storyline and rhymes in this book are extremely adorable. Larry and Steve have an adventure exploring chicago, but Larry gets lost along the way. Each page shows different landmarks and traditions in Chicago. It also has anectodal's with more infomation. This is a great book for K to 2 grade and i highly recommend it!
June 2, 2017
Awwwww... Love! A story about a dog, Chicago, plus historical facts :)
August 28, 2018
A great fun way to learn about the different attractions and famous sites different cities and places have to offer.
March 6, 2019
Cute! Larry dives for a hot dog on an L platform and gets separated from his family. The two groups tour the city looking for one another, and reunite at the Bean.
May 29, 2020
The illustrations are terrible.
January 19, 2019
Great story told in ryhme which really engages the reader. I could recite this book without even opening it.
April 22, 2018
wide reading for CI546
grade level: elementary school but perhaps any age
genre: picture book that contains both a) a narrative fiction story but b) a series of factoids about chicago
themes: travel, chicago, family, pet ownership
cultures: The only people in the book that you can actually identify the culture of are Larry's white presumably Midwestern (they arrive by train, after all) family. All the other folks in the city of Chicago are shown as shadows as it's a book about places and things, not people.
school use: I might use this book if I was doing a third grade unit on Chicago history, as most CPS schools do. Or if I taught in a suburb or smaller city nearby and was taking my kids on a field trip.
review: I like that this book is simple with rhyming text which would appeal to young kids but also contains many blurbed facts that would make it relatable to older children as well. The illustrations are really great - colorful and in many different styles. I like that there are some factoids shown only in the illustrations as well (i.e., the Michael Jordan statue is not identified in the text but it's obvious at least to this adult reader what/who it is).
grade level: elementary school but perhaps any age
genre: picture book that contains both a) a narrative fiction story but b) a series of factoids about chicago
themes: travel, chicago, family, pet ownership
cultures: The only people in the book that you can actually identify the culture of are Larry's white presumably Midwestern (they arrive by train, after all) family. All the other folks in the city of Chicago are shown as shadows as it's a book about places and things, not people.
school use: I might use this book if I was doing a third grade unit on Chicago history, as most CPS schools do. Or if I taught in a suburb or smaller city nearby and was taking my kids on a field trip.
review: I like that this book is simple with rhyming text which would appeal to young kids but also contains many blurbed facts that would make it relatable to older children as well. The illustrations are really great - colorful and in many different styles. I like that there are some factoids shown only in the illustrations as well (i.e., the Michael Jordan statue is not identified in the text but it's obvious at least to this adult reader what/who it is).
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May 22, 2012Once again, Larry our favorite curious canine is on the move with Pete and his family, this time traveling to the Windy City. Larry leads us on an adventure we will not forget!
The fun and excitement of riding a train, a water taxi, and walking Chicago's Magnificent Mile leads to Larry's inevitable separation from his family. After taking the reader with him on his winding path through Chicago's other quintessential landmarks, Larry reunites once again with his family.
Visit www.ReadingJungle.com to read the rest of the review and many others!
The fun and excitement of riding a train, a water taxi, and walking Chicago's Magnificent Mile leads to Larry's inevitable separation from his family. After taking the reader with him on his winding path through Chicago's other quintessential landmarks, Larry reunites once again with his family.
Visit www.ReadingJungle.com to read the rest of the review and many others!
September 22, 2013
Cute premise, great retro art, and a fun storyline (bonus: it's told in rhyme). Favorite part of the book? The authors throw in interesting facts about the city (though I don't think I'll EVER call it Willis Tower...), so kiddos are learning a lot about this great city as well. Recommend for everyone, especially Chicago buffs!
February 10, 2015
This was a great story for a young child who either lives in or is visiting Chicago. The characters are terrific and the story is interesting. So many of Chicago's sights of interst are well depicted in story and drawings. There is even a plush toy Larry that can be purchased along with the book.
August 28, 2012
This was an adorable bedtime story, I picked it up at the top of the sears tower in chicago! It touched on all the main sights of chicago, and even taught how to make that famous chicago hot dog. Love this book!
January 19, 2015
Just a cute book about a dog who gets lost in the big city. Mentions a lot of Chicago landmarks, including stadiums for every major sports team except for the Blackhawks, so that dates it a little bit. The illustrations were adorable, though.
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June 23, 2015a good introduction to Chicago, with excellent illustrations and a rhyming story line to boot.
i liked that each page also had historical and architectural information, so is a bit of a travelog.
well worth reading before or during a visit to the Windy City.
i liked that each page also had historical and architectural information, so is a bit of a travelog.
well worth reading before or during a visit to the Windy City.
June 29, 2011
Very cool book - great illustrations - fun way to learn about Chicago. The storyline was fine but not as neat as the rest of the book.
November 25, 2011
awesome!!!! :)
December 9, 2012
Travel books for kids!!! Love the concept.
April 8, 2014
Pretty cute, hits on Chicago's main tourist attractions as Larry the dog gets lost then re-united with his boy. And no ketchup on hotdogs!! The way it should be.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews