A Vacation for Pooch: A Picture Book

by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Meet Violet. She’s going on vacation to sunny Florida. She packed her bag very carefully.

Meet Pooch. He’s going on vacation to Grandpa’s snowy farm. Violet packed his bag very carefully, too.

After they both leave, disaster strikes! When their bags get mixed up, Violet thinks Pooch’s vacation will be miserable. But Pooch is having a grand old time, so all is very well!

Genres: Picture Books, Dogs, Childrens, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 19, 2013

About the author

Maryann Cocca-Leffler of NH, is the Author and Illustrator of over
60 books for children. Maryann’s book, Janine (2015) and its new sequel, Janine and the Field Day Finish (2016), were inspired by her daughter, Janine. Together they have developed a corresponding website, www.janinesparty.com with a mission to help change public perception of children with disabilities. Other books include, A Homemade Together Christmas, Bus Route to Boston and Bravery Soup.
Now a playwright, Maryann wrote a play based on her Princess KIM books. Princess K.I.M. The Musical won a National New Play Festival in 2012 and has had sold out performances on the East and West coasts. Princess K.I.M. The Musical is now represented by Stagerights.com, a licensing agency in LA to bring the play National.

Maryann grew up in the Boston area (read Bus Route To Boston!) and attended Massachusetts College of Art and Design where she received a BFA in Illustration. Her very first book, Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’ written by Eileen Spinelli, was published in 1982 and has been re-released in 2015 as a classic. When not in her studio, Maryann is traveling, visiting schools and attending her play.

If you are interested in a school visit, please check out the VISITS link on my website:
www.MaryannCoccaLeffler.com
www.JaninesParty.com
www.PrincessKimTheMusical.com

Reviews

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl gets ready to go to Florida with her family for vacation.

She also prepares her dog for his "vacation" on Grandpa's farm.

When she gets to Florida, she finds that she has left her bag at the farm and took her dog's bag.

How will her pet survive without his toys or leash or sleeping pillow?

Let's call Grandpa to find out.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a problem to solve!

I really like how that big problem is laid out, one meaningful chunk at a time.

Of all the illustrations in this gorgeously illustrated book, my fave has to be the one where Violet is screaming "Fluffy Cat." Am I the only one who can see a universe of woe in her wide-open mouth?

Incidentally, the writing is equally superb. And it's also done by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Nice!

NO SPOILERS FROM ME, NO NO!

Altogether, this book is powerful Anti-Worry Medicine.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute book! The illustrations are adorable and the story is so sweet. I remember as a kid going on vacation (and even now too) when I have to leave my cat at home and I miss her so if you have a pet and you have to leave the pet when you go on vacation, you can relate to this story. And if you don't have a pet, it's still a cute story to read!

[Julie Yim · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 6 year old fell in love with this book and reads it all the time!!! We had checked it out at the library and I recently returned it which made her sad. I am going to buy it for her, it is a great read!

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little girl packs her bag and her dogs bag for vacation. Dog goes to the farm, girl goes to the beach. Then she discovers they have each others bags! She worries about him, but when they call grandpa, pooch is fine. Made a friend and is sleeping with her doll, so all is well.

[Y.Poston]

cute doggie owner story

[Elizabeth Plav · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story we all enjoyed as a family! My kid, especially!

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet packs two bags, one for herself for her vacation in sunny Florida, and one for her dog Pooch for his snowy vacation with her grandpa. She is distraught when on the beach she discovers that she had mixed up the bags. Violet had Pooch’s things which meant that Pooch had hers. She was sure that Pooch’s vacation was ruined so she called Grandpa to find out. Sweet story and very nice illustrations.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

While packing for vacation in Florida, Violet packs a green bag of essentials for herself and a green bag of essentials for her dog, Pooch. Pooch will be vacationing with Violet’s Grandpa on his farm. Violet has a grand time in Florida until she gets ready for bed. When she reaches for her favorite doll, she discovers Pooch’s favorite toy. How will Pooch ever survive at Grandpa’s without his essentials? She imagines all the misfortunes that befell Pooch while she was living it up in Florida. However, when she calls Grandpa, she discovers that Pooch was also living it up on the farm. This sweet story of pet love and separation anxiety is made all the more enjoyable because of its split-page juxtaposition of Violet’s fun activities and her imagined plights of Pooch. Simple spare text, bright illustrations and the trim size will appeal to beginning readers. It is a good choice for reading aloud. Purchase if needed.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet and her family are going on a beach vacation to Florida, but she's sad because they can't bring along her beloved Pooch. She carefully packs Pooch a bag of his favorite things for his stay at her grandfather's house, but accidentally switches the bag with her own bag. When she discovers the mix-up she is distraught, but a call to her grandfather's reveals that Pooch has had a great day even without all of his stuff. The cutest part is that he happily snuggles up with Violet's doll
in lieu of his own favorite toy. I'm a dog lover, so of course I love this book, but I also think it does a good job of showing kids that they can have fun away from home without feeling guilty about what they may have left behind.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Violet packs her bags for vacation in sunny, beautiful, warm Florida, she prepares a bag for her dog, Pooch. He can't go on vacation to Florida with her -- no dogs allowed -- so he is going to Grandpa's farm to play in the snow. Nothing could possibly go wrong -- except that Violet accidentally takes Pooch's bag with her!

Worried that Pooch's vacation is ruined without his Fluffy Cat, his favorite red ball, and his food, Violet frantically calls Grandpa. Will everything be okay?

This would be a great read for a beginning reader looking for something a little bit more complex than books from our JP collection.

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to give this 3 1/2, but I'll give it 4 for the artwork. VERY cute book about a girl who has some dominant mothering feelings toward her pet pooch. Neat story line with a middle that will jerk children's attention back to the book. If you pay close attention, you will see the illustrator has used a multitude of materials to illustrate this book which include watercolor pencils, fabrics, and pencil crayons.So cool!

[Great Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vacations can be fun but also stressful. When Violet can't bring her dog on vacation she packs a bag so he will be happy with Grandpa. Diaster strikes the first night when she discovers their bags have been switched. Reassuring for those "I want to go home" moments. Reviewer 5

[Palmer]

Violet goes on vacation to Florida worried about how her dog, Pooch, will cope without her. She takes Pooch's bag by mistake. Boy, is she relieved when grandpa says Pooch has been having fun on the farm without her.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pooch goes to Grampa's snowy farm while Violet flies to the sunny beach, but there is a mix-up with the bags and Violet has all Pooch's toys and vice versa. Cute story with clever art work of gouache with fabric collage on watercolor paper.

[Hannah Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable, easy-to-follow story that leaves you saying awww. Illustrations are plentiful, loud, and very sweet (my favorite was the Pooch and Molly page). Sometimes it can be a very happy thing when your original plans don’t work out!

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age: Preschool+
Animal: Dog

Fresh concept for a doggie book that also deals with separation and friendship.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pooch has more fun than Violet on his vacation. So much for separation anxiety.

[Cindy Dobrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

We'd all like to think we are indispensable...but we're not. I have a 22 year old daughter who worries just as much about leaving her pooch behind. I'll have to pass this book on to her.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dog lovers everywhere will relate to the angst of leaving a pet behind. Cute story and fun illustrations.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about a girl who goes on vacation and leaves her beloved dog with her grandpa for the week. I won't spoil it...it's cute though!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute! Lovely story and beautiful illustrations!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like dogs you will like this book.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

MC reads as Asian to me, thought grandfather reads as Caucasian. Emailed author/illustrator since I was curious!

[Fjóla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute! We're not even all that much into dogs but we empathized and we loved it. Three and a half stars really ...

[Brindi Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is cute....about being separated from your pet.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my favorite, but Libby has wanted to check it out from the library multiple times

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for teaching kids about other people's, in this case dogs', perspectives.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet has made all the preparations for pooch to vacation with Grandpa, while she goes to Florida.