What do you think?
Rate this book
The Great Gracie Chase - Stop That Dog!
Gracie is a dog who enjoys the quiet life. For her, there's nothing more pleasant than sitting indoors, resting peacefully. One day, however, Gracie's world is turned upside-down with the arrival of some noisy, bustling painters. Gracie barks at them, ordering them out of her house, but to her surprise, Gracie is put out instead. When Gracie decides to take a walk outdoors–all by herself–it doesn't take long for someone to notice she's missing. Soon, the painters, the neighbors, the garbage man and the paperboy are running after her, and Gracie can't figure out why . . . so she keeps on running! Soon the whole town joins in the chase, but Gracie outruns them all and returns home–all by herself.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2001
About the author
Cynthia Rylant
396 books883 followersCynthia Rylant is an American author, poet, and librarian whose deeply felt books for children and young adults have made her one of the most beloved voices in contemporary literature. Writing across picture books, novels, short stories, nonfiction, and poetry, she has published more than one hundred works, many of them rooted in memory, family, solitude, and the emotional landscapes of ordinary life. Her fiction often draws from her upbringing in West Virginia and reflects the textures of Appalachian life with unusual tenderness and clarity.
Raised in modest circumstances, Rylant spent much of her childhood with her grandparents in a rural setting that later became central to her imagination as a writer. Those early years, marked by hardship as well as warmth, shaped the emotional honesty and quiet resilience that define her work. She later studied English and library science, and after working as a waitress, librarian, and teacher, she began publishing books inspired by the world she had known so intimately.
Among her most acclaimed works are Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book. She also earned Caldecott Honors for When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. For younger readers, she became especially well known through the enduring Henry and Mudge series, as well as other popular books and series that combine gentleness, humor, and emotional depth.
Rylant's writing is distinguished by its compassion for lonely, searching, or overlooked characters, and by its reverence for animals, nature, and small human connections. Whether writing about grief, wonder, childhood, or belonging, she brings a lyrical simplicity that resonates across generations. Her books continue to offer comfort, recognition, and beauty to readers of all ages. She remains a singular literary presence in children's literature and beyond today.
Raised in modest circumstances, Rylant spent much of her childhood with her grandparents in a rural setting that later became central to her imagination as a writer. Those early years, marked by hardship as well as warmth, shaped the emotional honesty and quiet resilience that define her work. She later studied English and library science, and after working as a waitress, librarian, and teacher, she began publishing books inspired by the world she had known so intimately.
Among her most acclaimed works are Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book. She also earned Caldecott Honors for When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. For younger readers, she became especially well known through the enduring Henry and Mudge series, as well as other popular books and series that combine gentleness, humor, and emotional depth.
Rylant's writing is distinguished by its compassion for lonely, searching, or overlooked characters, and by its reverence for animals, nature, and small human connections. Whether writing about grief, wonder, childhood, or belonging, she brings a lyrical simplicity that resonates across generations. Her books continue to offer comfort, recognition, and beauty to readers of all ages. She remains a singular literary presence in children's literature and beyond today.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
September 27, 2018
Ages: 3 - 7
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
August 4, 2020
Not going to lie -- this book gave me such anxiety. A dog running around in the streets makes me so nervous about its well being! The painters put the owners' dog outside while the owners were gone? That painting company would be REPORTED. Everyone is running around and there are stray cats and ahhhhh! This is just not a good book for someone like me who is always on alert about animal welfare.
But, it's a cute book so if you read it with your child, hopefully they don't think about it as literally as I did, haha!
But, it's a cute book so if you read it with your child, hopefully they don't think about it as literally as I did, haha!
March 13, 2020
This is one of my favorite books to read to young children. Gracie is a cute little dog that realizes she doesn't like painters...they are too noisy! When Gracie voices her opinion, she gets put outside. Someone left the gate open and Gracie decides to 'go for a walk'. It's a cute story and the illustrations are really colorful and help give depth to the story.
March 7, 2008
This is a very funny and sweet book with really good illustrations. Wonderful for kids who love dogs. And it's a perfect read aloud book. Enjoyable for adults as well as young children.
September 19, 2023
This was a very entertaining book for me to read, so I know this will be a great book for younger students. It didn't have a deeper meaning which made for a more lighthearted read and a very good story time. Throughout this book, a very calm dog, normal, was startled by painters and construction workers so she started to bark. Her owner put her outside so Gracie escaped and ran away. This caused all the town workers, and her owners to chase after her. I absolutely loved the comedy within this book because the illustrations of this picture story book show how confused Gracie was when everyone was chasing her and from a human perspective them being confused why she was still running. I think this would be a perfect read for 1st grade or kindergarten because it was very goofy and light hearted with so many detailed images that made the story feel real. Overall, this was a great book to find and I would love to read this to my classroom for a fun story time. The picture book feel of this book really pulled the whole book together because the illustrations explained more of Gracies thoughts than the words did alone.
February 25, 2025
Cynthia Rylant has give us one of her best plots ever, with an engaging cast of characters.
Incidentally, Mark Teague is the able illustrator, not the author at all.
THIS BOOK IS ALL AB OUT THE GREAT GRACIE CHASE
The chase in that title begins with Gracie, a dog. Hardly adventurous, she generally prefers sitting indoors. She prefers resting.
Until, that is, noisy house painters enter her home. When Gracie barks at the painters, ordering them to leave HER house, she is put out instead.
Fast forward to the thrilling conclusion -- where the house painters, the neighbors, the garbage man, the paperboy and the delivery woman are all running after her.
A happy ending does, somehow, happen.
FIVE STARS for a most engaging story.
Incidentally, Mark Teague is the able illustrator, not the author at all.
THIS BOOK IS ALL AB OUT THE GREAT GRACIE CHASE
The chase in that title begins with Gracie, a dog. Hardly adventurous, she generally prefers sitting indoors. She prefers resting.
Until, that is, noisy house painters enter her home. When Gracie barks at the painters, ordering them to leave HER house, she is put out instead.
Fast forward to the thrilling conclusion -- where the house painters, the neighbors, the garbage man, the paperboy and the delivery woman are all running after her.
A happy ending does, somehow, happen.
FIVE STARS for a most engaging story.
October 11, 2018
The Great Gracie Chase is another one of Cynthia Rylant's best written. It tells the story of a little dog named Gracie who lives a pleasant life and loves the peace and quiet of her home. One day, that all changes when painters come to redo her owners house and they are so noisy. Not only does this upset Gracie but the painters left the front door open and that began the Great Gracie Chase. This book teaches accountability and responsibility but in a way young kids can understand the concept. I will definitely use this book in my classroom one day. I would recommend to any teacher or parent looking for a good children's book.
November 21, 2019
This book is about a dog named Gracie that likes things that are quiet and usually tries to be a good dog. She doesn't like it when noisy painters come to the house so she gets put outside and soon everyone is chasing her when she goes for a walk. She eventually tires everyone out and she returns to her quiet house. This is a cute read aloud to include when reading other books written by Cynthia Rylant.
June 15, 2020
Children's literature picture book
K-1
This is a book that I think kindergarteners would especially love. Gracie is an endearing, cute puppy who likes a quiet life, but turns everyone else's upside down when she runs away from the painters. This could be fun for a pet unit or mentor text for sequencing.
K-1
This is a book that I think kindergarteners would especially love. Gracie is an endearing, cute puppy who likes a quiet life, but turns everyone else's upside down when she runs away from the painters. This could be fun for a pet unit or mentor text for sequencing.
April 25, 2022
Contemporary Realistic
Grades K-2
In this story Gracie gets scared by some painters and takes off running through the neighborhood. Soon the whole town was chasing her trying to catch her. I read this book with my 1st grade STEM class I'm with for fieldwork. They then used Scratch Jr. to retell the story with coding.
Grades K-2
In this story Gracie gets scared by some painters and takes off running through the neighborhood. Soon the whole town was chasing her trying to catch her. I read this book with my 1st grade STEM class I'm with for fieldwork. They then used Scratch Jr. to retell the story with coding.
May 14, 2022
Narrative
Grade Level: K-2
This is one of my FAVORITE picture books of all time! It is an adorable story of a good little dog named Gracie who decides to be naughty for the first time in her life. The plot and illustrations are engaging. Side note: Mark Teague is one of my FAVORITE illustrators. I've used this book as a mentor text in my first grade classroom for a personal narrative unit.
Grade Level: K-2
This is one of my FAVORITE picture books of all time! It is an adorable story of a good little dog named Gracie who decides to be naughty for the first time in her life. The plot and illustrations are engaging. Side note: Mark Teague is one of my FAVORITE illustrators. I've used this book as a mentor text in my first grade classroom for a personal narrative unit.
June 10, 2018
What a FUN book! The illustrations are wonderful! Vibrant and animated! The story builds interest quickly. I enjoyed this adventure tale very much! I will be adding Mark Teague’s work to my “to read” list!
May 25, 2020
Sometimes when your routine is upset, your whole world gets out of order! This is a good story for K-3rd graders and a mentor text for author's voice. The illustrations also help reiterate the point of view from Gracie.
August 13, 2020
Adorable story about a little dog that just likes peace and quiet at home until the painters arrive and ruin everything. So reminds me of my little dog who hates construction at our house. Love the illustrations of Mark Teague!
May 18, 2023
I can't stand this dog. I would let Gracie get lost, put her outside and never let her come back in. My son loves looking at this book, so I read it every night. The words are slow and not great so I've made up my own. The illustrations are nice.
October 7, 2024
Cynthia Rylant does it again! She draws the reader into the action immediately. Gracie likes quiet, but she gets a race until she out races everyone and can go back home to her favorite - quiet. Quiet - life as she knows it, her favorite place in her favorite way, without any change.
November 25, 2017
This was a cute book that would be easy for children to learn about sequence of events with.
November 28, 2017
This is a very interactive book. It keeps you on edge about when is the dog going to stop running. It shows that even animals like that want routine.
December 6, 2017
Reminiscent of a story from the classic era of cartoons, this is the funny story of a pudgy little dog who leads the entire neighborhood on a wacky case.
November 15, 2018
It is allowing because Gracie is funny
December 31, 2018
This is my childhood book. I am convinced that The Great Gracie Chase sparked my love for reading.
April 9, 2019
The tale of the day Gracie Rose, a little dog who enjoys her peace and quite, left her yard, and led the entire town on a merry chase.
April 20, 2019
That was a fun, silly story. Loved the bold, colorful, cute illustrations.
September 25, 2019
This is a book about a dog who gets her life interrupted by some noisy painters. The painters put her outside and she escapes and runs away but eventually come back home.
September 27, 2019
This will be fun to share at Storytime - Music & Movement.
November 28, 2019
Adorable! We love Cynthia Rylant’s books!
December 21, 2019
One of my very favorite books to share with children!
February 3, 2021
Read to Sam.
October 17, 2021
I love the characterization of Gracie in this wonderful story!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews