I Swapped My Dog

by Harriet Ziefert, Emily Bolam (Illustrator)

At first, the farmer picks a dog for his new companion on the farm and then changes his mind, but after picking one animal after another, he realizes his dog is the best pet of them all and brings him back home.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Storytime, Dogs, Pets, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 1998

About the author

Harriet Ziefert grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey, where she attended the local schools. She graduated from Smith College, then received a Masters degree in Education from New York University.

For many years, Ziefert was an elementary school teacher. She taught most grades from kindergarten to fifth grade. "I liked it," she said, but she stopped teaching when she had her own sons. When her children were older, Ziefert wanted "a bigger arena" for her work. She went to work at a publishing company, Scholastic in New York City, developing materials for teacher's guides for kindergarten language arts and social studies programs.

"About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year.

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library]

With great rhythm and fun rhymes, I Swapped My Dog is the tale of how to be content with what we have.
- Megan M.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used this for Storytime today. Works well with a younger group.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Predictable format and great pictures with common animals the children will enjoy, this one teaches about discontent, seeking out what you want, and learning to be content with what you have - all with a bit of silliness thrown in for good measure.

[Danielle Simmons · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a nice book to entertain kids. It started out with a man and his dog but he flet the nedd to switch his dog for something more useful that he could use. So he sapped him for various animals and he ended up finding a problem with all of them so end the end he got his dog back which is what he truly wanted. This is a nice book for kids to discover the true meaning of friendship. The pictures were also clever and colorful.

[Mary Sesar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about man who always seems to want more out of an animal and keeps swapping the animals around to find something he likes until he realizes that having his dog was what he wanted all along.
I would use this book to teach children to not take what you have for granted and to just be happy with what you do have, rather than unhappy for what you don't have.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's a great book to read to younger children when teaching about animals. It's also a great book to talk about conflict with yourself. The man wants the perfect pet, and realizes he had it all along.

[Douglas Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute story for 4 to 6 year olds told in rhyme.

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute for toddlers, nice bright illustrations

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun iambic and anapestic rhythms! This accompanied by its rhymes makes this book an easy, enjoyable read.

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

this story teaches the lesson that you always want what you don't have. you should be happy with what you've got because other things are not how you think they are.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rhyming circular story about a farmer who keeps trading one farm animal for another. A fun preschool read aloud which will also be good for making predictions.