How do you draw your smelly dog? Your playful daddy? Your yummy mommy? See how one girl does it in this simple, clever picture book that's comprise...
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reviews
Oct 05, 2009
(NS) Lauren
rated it: 
Grade Level: K-5
I loved this book for its celebration of creativity and imagination! The story is told from the perspective of a little girl who is not quite satified with the simple family portrait she has drawn for her teacher with a pen on a piece of plain notebook paper. Her original drawing fails to capture her family members' true personalities, and so she sets about describing each of them through common household objects that she glues on top of watercolor bodies to create More...
I loved this book for its celebration of creativity and imagination! The story is told from the perspective of a little girl who is not quite satified with the simple family portrait she has drawn for her teacher with a pen on a piece of plain notebook paper. Her original drawing fails to capture her family members' true personalities, and so she sets about describing each of them through common household objects that she glues on top of watercolor bodies to create More...
Jun 11, 2011
Mark
rated it: 
When it comes to really nailing the essence of a loved one, argues the girl who narrates Piven’s latest collage confection, the truly committed artist must eschew paper and pencil and turn instead to the found object. Thus, the full stinky-ness of Schmutz, the girl’s dog, comes alive in an assemblage that includes real socks for ears, garlic for eyes, an onion for the tail and pepperoni for a nose. "Yucky-Boo!" announces the girl as the dachshund-like doggie is revealed, "I warned
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Sep 30, 2009
Amanda
rated it:
My Dog is as Smelly as Socks
Summary:
This book is full of similes about the family of the main character. The story is about his family and how the pencil paper drawing just does not show his family and enough about them. The illustrator uses common objects put together to make his personal representation of each person in his family. Each object used is a simile for something about that family member. The end of the book has examples of items that can be used to represent things a More...
Summary:
This book is full of similes about the family of the main character. The story is about his family and how the pencil paper drawing just does not show his family and enough about them. The illustrator uses common objects put together to make his personal representation of each person in his family. Each object used is a simile for something about that family member. The end of the book has examples of items that can be used to represent things a More...
Oct 26, 2010
Marguarite
rated it: 
Using ordinary objects, the author creates extraordinary portraits. For example...the dog body is painted, his floppy ear is a dirty sock, his eyes are onions, his nose is pepperoni, his legs are hot dogs (he is a weiner dog) and his feet are tuna/sardine cans. And, the objects are smelly objects to emphasize the stinky dog.
I would love to do a library program and have the kids illustrate a pet or family member using found/recycled objects.
I would love to do a library program and have the kids illustrate a pet or family member using found/recycled objects.
Apr 02, 2009
Becky
rated it:
What an unusual book! The narrator, a little girl, takes a drawn family portrait and expands it to present each member of her family "drawn" with objects that represent the way they are (as strong as a baseball bat, as loud as a whistle). Good for thinking about characteristics, symbols, similes, and what makes art. Pair with something like Look-Alikes and I Spy, then make your own for a really fun library program.
Jan 30, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
This book contains a lot of smilies that would be a good writing skills and the pictures so creative to look at. It makes me laugh and one of my favorite to discuss to introduce who I am to my tutor students. As an exercise... I have used this book to let the students describe themselves and I would print out pictures that goes along with their sentences and do a little mini project about "Who am I?"
Apr 04, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
A little girl transforms a normal piece of artwork into a masterpiece using her imagination and metaphors. I love all the metaphors in this book and I love the suggestions at the end for students to create their own metaphor work. This would be great in 1st and 2nd grade!
Mar 10, 2009
Bethany
rated it:
Very fun book! It starts with a child's drawing of her family, but is enhanced with little objects one might find in a junk drawer. A fun read-aloud that lends itself perfectly for a related craft for kids to make own family portraits with miscellaneous stuff.
Apr 29, 2011
Becca
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Adorable! A very cute way to make a "get to know yourself" assignment more fun. Many activities could come along with this story. Very creative- would use in the classroom, definitely. Would recommend to any elementary grade.
Feb 26, 2009
Molly
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This is getting a 5 from me for illustrations alone. This is a library program in a box to me. I loved to make things out of junk when I was a kid and this book will really get kids imaginations going! Ages 4+
May 05, 2010
Emma
rated it:
A little girl draws a family portrait but isn't quite happy in how it doesn't show the whole story. So, she decides to jazz the portraits up with symbolism and metaphor.
Oct 28, 2010
Kim
rated it:
The author takes ordinary objects and makes them into portraits. Not good for storytime , but good to show different types of art, or for older kids.
Mar 25, 2010
Kay
rated it:
Very creative book about a child who draws his/her family by using different objects that each person reminds her of. Great introduction to similes.
Aug 23, 2011
Karen
rated it:
great for simile study
be fun to use as mentor to write about another topic and have them design their page as a collage
be fun to use as mentor to write about another topic and have them design their page as a collage
Aug 24, 2011
Alissa
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I didn't really like the story, but I loved the idea for a craft for children a bit older than mine.
Nov 05, 2011
Michelle
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Great descriptions of family members through the use of similes and every day objects.
Apr 06, 2011
Kerri
rated it:
This is an amazing book to teach children many things from similies to imagination. The book goes through as a young child tells about her family through many relateable similies. The portraits depicting each person in th family are sure to strike up your child's imagination to create one of their own! A great book to read close to the first days of school. Have students create their own family portrait.
Mar 06, 2010
Cindi
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This book is just creative fun-ness! The punch line at the end is worth a guffaw!
Jun 21, 2011
Jamie
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Another great story to integrate art, writing, and figurative language.
Dec 04, 2010
jacky
rated it:
This was featured on Between the Lions. This is a great book for class room use, even for older students. It really shows how writers (and artists) need to provide more details to make good characters. It also has tons of similes. The descriptions of the family are fun as well as the artwork.
Jan 10, 2008
Susan
rated it:
While I cannot recall the exact date I first read this, I can say I read it today to two separate classes of first graders and it was a tremendous hit with the children as well as their teachers. A fun book to read out loud as well, lots of room for dramatic pauses, raised eyebrows, and a heart-rendering and rendered "ahhhh" at the end. This would also be a great kick-off point for creating portraits (written and assembled/art) in a classroom or at home.
Dec 17, 2011
Katie
rated it:
Read at preschool story time on 11/28/11: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/201...
May 30, 2008
Megan
rated it:
The artwork in this book is uber-creative. As the main character describes all of his family members and pets, he uses unusual comparisons, and then utilizes those items to create the picture of the family member. This book would be a great starting point for similar writing projects and art projects. Everyone in the family read this one--even the adults.
