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230th out of 501 books
—
486 voters
Charley's First Night
Two of our most beloved picture book creators team up to tell a classic story of a child, his new puppy, and a first night home.
On Charley’s first night, Henry carries his new puppy in his old baby blanket all the way to his house. He shows Charley every room, saying, "This is home, Charley." He says that a lot so that Charley will know that he is home. Henry’s parents are...more
On Charley’s first night, Henry carries his new puppy in his old baby blanket all the way to his house. He shows Charley every room, saying, "This is home, Charley." He says that a lot so that Charley will know that he is home. Henry’s parents are...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
October 9th 2012
by Candlewick Press
(first published September 1st 2012)
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This is home. That’s what I told Charley when we got home. And I showed him all the rooms including my room…. “This is home.” I said that a lot so Charley could know he was home.
This is a sweet, warm story of a puppy’s first night with his new family. Henry Korn brought his new puppy, Charley, home wrapped in a blanket, that first, snowy night and showed Charley around. With some lovely repetitive text, Hest describes that Henry’s parents make it clear who will be responsible for feeding an wal...more
This is a sweet, warm story of a puppy’s first night with his new family. Henry Korn brought his new puppy, Charley, home wrapped in a blanket, that first, snowy night and showed Charley around. With some lovely repetitive text, Hest describes that Henry’s parents make it clear who will be responsible for feeding an wal...more
Charley's First Night by Amy Hest, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury tells the story of Henry, his brand new puppy Charley, and Charley's first night at Henry's home.
Oxenbury's detailed illustrations were done in pencil and watercolor. Larger illustrations are bordered, with the text (and a small illustration) on the opposite page, except for the final illustration. The endpapers show Charley in various positions. My favorite images are the cover, begging to be carried, accident, Dad talking to Henr...more
Oxenbury's detailed illustrations were done in pencil and watercolor. Larger illustrations are bordered, with the text (and a small illustration) on the opposite page, except for the final illustration. The endpapers show Charley in various positions. My favorite images are the cover, begging to be carried, accident, Dad talking to Henr...more
4.5 STARS
So sweet! I love the gentle writing style and the lovely illustrations with just a hint of old-fashioned charm. I love how the little boy in the story is so sensitive and thoughtful about his new puppy and helping his puppy get through his first night in his new home. It's so endearing.
A few aspects kept this from being a five-star book for me. For example, it seemed unrealistic that the parents would have slept through the puppy's whining and let the little boy tend to him all through...more
So sweet! I love the gentle writing style and the lovely illustrations with just a hint of old-fashioned charm. I love how the little boy in the story is so sensitive and thoughtful about his new puppy and helping his puppy get through his first night in his new home. It's so endearing.
A few aspects kept this from being a five-star book for me. For example, it seemed unrealistic that the parents would have slept through the puppy's whining and let the little boy tend to him all through...more
Sweet puppy alert! Sweet puppy alert! Henry has a new puppy, and their relationship is quickly blossoming into mutual adoration. Henry takes good care of Charley, the new puppy, picking him up when the snow outside is too deep. He listens carefully as his parents remind him of the responsibilities of pet ownership, and he makes sure Charley feels at home. But as often happens during anyone's first night in a new home, Charlie cries. Henry comes to his rescue, and comforts him. Despite his parent...more
Your first night in a new home can be unnerving, and that's especially true for a puppy who has left his mother and moved to an entirely new place with new humans and new smells.
Henry has a new puppy, Charley. Henry knows he will be the one in charge of feeding Charley, and walking Charley, and caring for Charley, because his parents told him so. They also told him that Charley is not to sleep in Henry's bed. Charley is to sleep on a pallet in the kitchen, under a table where the warm air comes...more
Henry has a new puppy, Charley. Henry knows he will be the one in charge of feeding Charley, and walking Charley, and caring for Charley, because his parents told him so. They also told him that Charley is not to sleep in Henry's bed. Charley is to sleep on a pallet in the kitchen, under a table where the warm air comes...more
This was like a prequel to Hest's other boy and his dog book, The Reader. I liked this one more, because it's about disobedience in the face of a Catch-22. It was a better narrative because of that conflict than The Reader. I appreciate the 'boy and his dog' from The Reader more now since reading Lu's review, and might have liked to see these books as a chapter book or even a series, something to allow another conflict-based narrative to bookend with Charley around the more benign story of The R...more
Full disclaimer: I'm a sucker for dog stories. Those who aren't might find this story sticky icky sweet. But if you remember the joy of your first pet, the way your mind starts reeling with imagining every glorious day after the first day, if you recall how easily it is to disregard parental advice about where a new animal will sleep, then this book will make you smile. Amy Hest's narrator describes not only what he's feeling as he brings a tiny little stray dog home, but he also lets the reader...more
Heart-meltingly cute!
Oh bliss... how could you not fall in love with little Charley, a puppy? Oxenbury's illustrations exude warmth and tenderness, as always, and are perfectly matched by the text of Charley's first night at home with Henry and his family.
There are accidents (oops) and Henry's parents' rules about caring for their new puppy. And, then there's Henry, who is obviously enamoured with Charley, and determined to be the best dog owner ever - to make Charley happy and at home.
I dare...more
Oh bliss... how could you not fall in love with little Charley, a puppy? Oxenbury's illustrations exude warmth and tenderness, as always, and are perfectly matched by the text of Charley's first night at home with Henry and his family.
There are accidents (oops) and Henry's parents' rules about caring for their new puppy. And, then there's Henry, who is obviously enamoured with Charley, and determined to be the best dog owner ever - to make Charley happy and at home.
I dare...more
By the cover image I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but I was thinking it was some sort of winter read. However it does take place during the snowy season this is a book about a boy named Henry and his new puppy Charley. The pages are gorgeous with each illustration bordered giving it a fancy storybook feel. The illustrations fabulous and fun to view. I'm not sure I've been familiar with Helen Oxenbury before, but I'm a fan now. Amy Hest had my heart after Little Chick and I'm glad to read...more
Pure bliss, that’s what this book is. This is the story of Henry who brings Charley, a new puppy, home. When they get home, Henry makes sure to show Charley all around his new home, even showing him where his mother hides the birthday presents. Henry’s parents inform him that he’s the one in charge of walking Charley and feeding Charley. Henry is thrilled and can’t wait to do those things forever. Then there’s the discussion of where Charley is going to sleep. Henry knows that Charley wants to s...more
Who doesn't love a new puppy? Amy Hest's charming book about a puppy's first night in a new home show every aspect of this familiar ritual for families. From the determination of the boy to take care of his new friend to parental wariness and doubt, the text and illustrations show every emotion as well as the sweet beginnings of a friendship between a boy and his dog. This would be a great story for parents to share with children who are determined to have a new pet.
Henry is very excited about his new puppy, Charley and Henry's parents are very clear on how things will be with Charley. They make sure Henry knows who will take care of Charley and where Charley will sleep. Unfortunately, Charley doesn't like sleeping alone in the kitchen. Henry tries to help Charley adjust to his new home, telling him often so he will know it is his home. A sweet story with lovely illustrations.
Charley is Henry's new puppy and on his first day home, Henry shows Charley every room in the house. Henry's parents also lay down the rules of when and where Charley will be walked and fed and go to sleep. But on Charley's first night, sleeping alone in the kitchen may be too difficult and Henry will have to help him through his first night. Amy Hest and Helen Oxenbury are the perfect pair for this sweet story.
A quiet, lovely book about a puppy and boy on their first night together. Amy Hest has a way with getting kid characters just right. When you combine Hest's well crafted word choices and Oxenbury's sweet (but not overly so) illustrations, you get something really special. Make sure to check out the reflection in the dresser top mirror on the last page for the perfect "cherry on top" finish to this tale.
A boy and a puppy weather the challenges of the first night home. Pencil and watercolor illustrations portray a sweet, yellow dog that melts your heart and an equally sweet little boy who despite his parent's rules sneaks the puppy into his bed for a restful night's sleep.
A charming book, though a long read, with a writing style that is soft and elegant like the first snow of the winter season.
A charming book, though a long read, with a writing style that is soft and elegant like the first snow of the winter season.
A cute story about a young boy bringing home his first puppy. The parents, of course, have set up the house rules. "The puppy must sleep in the kitchen." When Henry hears the puppy crying in the middle of the night, he really does try to honor his parent's requirements, but the sleeping arrangement does change by the end of the book. Such a sweet story with lovely illustrations.
I love that this is a sweet story of a boy and his first puppy without being *too* sweet or over the top. It feels very real and it's just a great little slice-of-life story. The illustration of the boy running to Charley in the middle of the night when he hears him crying is my most favorite moment of this book. The look of concern on his face is just wonderful, and perfect.
Dog books don't get much better than this. The tenderness of Amy Hest's story of Charley's first night with his proud, new young owner and Helen Oxenbury's PERFECT illustrations . . . ahhh. She gets the postures of the people and animals just right -- the eager little boy, the firm parents, the sleeping parents, the sweetness and vulnerability of the new puppy.
Ahhhh. It's a good thing my children didn't have this picture book when they were young or I would have had a dog much, much sooner. This was a beautiful, if improbable, tale of a boy getting a puppy. Having fought the "puppy in the bed" battle, I was not surprised at the ending. The pictures of Charley are the cutest thing ever.
A very cute story about a young boy's experience during his first night as a puppy owner. Henry Korn learns and observes a lot of new things about the new pet, Charley Korn. This puppy theme makes a great storybook for young children looking forward to becoming a pet owner. Great read during preschool storytime.
On a snowy night rescues a small puppy and brings him home. His parents allow him to keep the puppy he’s named Charley, as long as he promises to walk him, feed him, and that he sleeps in the kitchen. Henry agrees, but when Charley wakes up in the night, the sleeping in the kitchen promise becomes hard to keep.
I picture myself reading this story softly to a child, the pictures and text just present themselves that way. The illustrations of the puppy, Henry, are just too cute for words. If you are a pet lover, no matter it be dogs or cats, you too will enjoy this book. It's a great read for a child with a new pet.
A perfect blend of story and pictures by two top author/illustrators. Henry's parents say that Charley the puppy will be spending his nights in the kitchen, but it doesn't work out that way.
There is an intense sweetness here that is wonderful for being so real--not a drop of saccharine in the place.
There is an intense sweetness here that is wonderful for being so real--not a drop of saccharine in the place.
Beautiful illustrations. The book tells the tale of Charley's first night in his new home with Henry and his family. Henry is told that he must care for Charley, but Charley cannot sleep in Henry's room. When Henry awakes to hear Charley crying, he brings him upstairs, where they both fell soundly asleep.
Age: Preschool-1st grade
Animal: Dog
Season: Winter
With the perfect narrator's voice of a 4-8-year-old, Henry describes the tender connection he shares with his first dog, Charley. A prose piece accompanied with soft pictures making it a good book to end on for the night.
Animal: Dog
Season: Winter
With the perfect narrator's voice of a 4-8-year-old, Henry describes the tender connection he shares with his first dog, Charley. A prose piece accompanied with soft pictures making it a good book to end on for the night.
Such a sweet story of a boy and his companionship with a dog. The boy loves his dog Charlie, and is willing to take on many responsibilities to keep him... One thing he can't do is sleep with Charlie, but sometimes accidents happen!
What a narrator; what a voice. Also, what a lovely depiction of a little boy as a caregiver. I like that we get a peek of Mom's face in the mirror in the morning and know that Charley and Henry are not in too much trouble. :)
a new friendship between a young boy and a new puppy...illustration reminds me of classic children's literature from European publishers that were popular certain era in my childhood. Helen Oxenbury's illustration
A sweet story about a boy and his new dog Charlie and Charlie's first night in his new home. A great book for a child about to get a pet - may help them know the responsibilities that come along with having a pet.
This is a heartwarming story about a little boy who takes responsibility for the care of his new puppy, Charley. It's a sweet story about Charley's first night in his new home. The illustrations are wonderful too!
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Amy Hest is a three-time winner of the Christopher Medal and winner of the BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. She lives in New York City.
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Apr 06, 2013 07:09pm