Our Very Own Dog: Taking Care of Your First Pet

Read and Wonder

by Amanda McCardie, Salvatore Rubbino (Illustrator)

If you have a new dog companion—or want to adopt one—here’s a story full of facts that tells you everything you need to know.

There’s nothing more exciting than getting a dog! Join Sophie’s new human family as they prepare their home for her and introduce her to life as a beloved pet. Follow along as they learn about bedding and bowls, treats and training, walks and washing—and even an unexpected dog show! Factual notes run alongside the simple story, offering tips that will help turn tentative dog adopters into doting experts.

Genres: Picture Books, Dogs, Childrens, Nonfiction, Animals, Juvenile, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

Published January 10, 2017

About the author

Amanda McCardie is the author of several books for young readers, including Our Very Own Dog, illustrated by Salvatore Rubbino. She lives in London.

Reviews

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story about adopting a dog from a shelter. This tells how the dog adjusts to the family and its routines. This reminds me of all the dogs we have gotten from shelters or rescued off the street.

It has nice notes about training and dog behavior.

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love that the dog they get in this book is a rescue.
Great mix of fiction and facts.

[Vera Godley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book with lively illustrations that convey the joy and excitement that comes from bringing a dog into the home and life of a child. When the little girl is four, her family brings a dog into the home. The fictional story is actually a "this is what you do" type of story where the young girl and her family go through important things to know and do in regard to having a dog in your home.

Along with the actual story (centered on the pages) there are tidbits of factual instruction in smaller print along the top, bottom and sides of the pages.

At the back of the book there is a short indexed list of key words and a short list of additional reading that might be helpful. This is probably a good book for families with young children to read through if they are interested in adopting, buying, or being given a dog of their very own. It will help in understanding the temperment and care of a dog.

I recommend for homes and libraries everywhere.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. I was not compensated and opinions are my own, alone.

[Becca Rutkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!! It very much reminded me of my own Jack Russell terrier mix. The whole adoption process and what follows after is seen through the eyes of a child. I appreciated the insight into dog behavior, training, and more giving the first time dog owners some helpful advice.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet book with good tidbits about dogs.

[Kid Lit Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wanted a dog? Are you thinking about adding a dog to your family? Then Our Very Own Dog is the perfect picture book with which to start your search. After reading the story, check out the end pages which have many of the dog breeds beautifully illustrated. Our Very Own Dog tells the story of Sophie, a rescue dog who finally finds a furr-ever home of her own. By reading her story, you can get a solid idea what it takes to care for your very own dog.

The mixed media illustrations are very detailed, giving everyone much to look at and find. I love the relaxed swooping and curving strokes that sometimes go past the outline of an object.

Young children will like Sophie’s story, which might begin just as their own dog’s story began. Many dogs—though not enough—find their furr-ever family while at a shelter or rescue. Children who have a dog can compare notes with the story, while those without a dog can learn what . . .

Originally reviewed on Kid Lit Reviews. To read the full review and see interior illustrations, go to: http://bit.ly/OurVeryOwnDog

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the factual information on each page competed with rather than complemented the story.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect book for introducing a new pup to the family!

[Casandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect book for any young child who is just getting his or her first dog. Cute and also full of good information.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book with factual information padded into a cute story. Perfect for any child getting their first dog as a pet.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much information on each page with narrative vs. factual.

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good guide for beginning readers looking forward to their very first dog. The narrative format with both a story and helpful tips especially would lend itself to a parent/child read-along. The messages about transitioning into the new home, care and keeping, and dog behavior were all great. A couple topics were missing that I think small children should learn about when becoming pet owners: choosing a pet at the shelter (also the important message of adopting not shopping!) and humane treatment of animals (never hit/hurt/withhold necessities from your pet, how to use positive reinforcement and verbal feedback). The random conclusion at the end about the family wandering into a pet show with their dog and winning first prize because of the dog's friendly nature I think was pretty unrealistic and setting kids up for disappointment as well as conflicting with the more practical and helpful nature of the rest of the book.

[Malia Chase · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about Sophie's Family that adopts a new dog named Sophie into their family. The story follows her family as they train their dog and includes helpful information for children about dogs.
I chose this book because I thought it contained a lot of great information for children who are about to add a new dog into their family. It's definitely not something I would have chosen right away, but I'm glad I picked it up from the library.
Genre is informational fiction and for grades K-2.
I'm not entirely sure how I would implement this into my reading classroom, but I think this would be a great book to have in your own library in the classroom. If any students are thinking about getting a dog, the teacher can show them this book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl tells the story of how Sophie the dog came to live with her and her family, and how they prepare for her arrival. Little notes that explain to you why you and dogs do this and that as well as charming illustrations that show little girl taking care of dog help young readers to understand the responsibility in taking care of a dog. All in all, this is a story of how a dog and family adjust to each other. This is a really sweet story and an excellent book to give a young child who is getting a dog for first time.

[Jtimko · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl relates the care, feeding, and training of her adopted dog from the animal shelter.
Lovely mixed media illustrations along with simple easy to read text make this a good choice for the elementary library. The young girl describes how the family came about to possess an animal shelter dog. She explains how they play, feed, groom and exercise the dog. Small print explanations add to the text as it explains the reason behind each act. A short bibliography and index are included in the book. Recommended for Kindergarten through grade 3.

[Jackie Mancuso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the the layout and the art, fresh color palette on mostly white backgrounds, messy imperfect illustrations.

I did not like when the "notes" repeated what was in the text on the page. They were unecessary and in fact interrupted and visually distracted from the pleasure of reading the story. The "notes" were okay if they said something that was not in the dialogue.

It was not a well constructed story. Unfortunately what begins as a cute story about a family's experience of adopting a shelter dog loses dramatic steam and becomes anecdotal and there is no pay off to the premise.

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

a girl gets a dog when she is only four and a sweet relationship is formed. Covers some of the new pet basics - getting supplies, making sure the collar fits correctly - but also covers what dad had to do to earn sophie's trust. Sophie learns to understand her name and basic commands. A few funny vignettes of stealing sausages and baths and muddy puddles that covers the complexity and joy or having a family pet.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The sub-title was not part of the cover or interior title page. If it had been I may have realized this was less of a story and more an informational text. I did not like all the side bars-it really interrupted any flow that the story may have had--they could have been left to the end.

[Adrianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adding this to my list of practical nonfiction picture books to read kids who want to learn about dog ownership. I loved it until the odd part at the end where the dog randomly wins friendliest dog at a dog show that she didn't enter! ::shrug::

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great combination of fiction and non-fiction.

[Helaina Storie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great message or book to read before you get a pet.

[Annie Oosterwyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent for children wanting or getting a dog. The story is interwoven with facts and advice about caring for your new best friend.

[Maija · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the helpful tips about dog ownership.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet. I liked how they used a family's story to present the information, and then put deeper facts into little asides.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at how Sophie joins her new family, and how they took care of her. A good book for new dog owners, or future dog owners.

[Kristien Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ireland liked the pictures and that it was about dogs.

[Julie Hedlund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty straightforward text, but useful information. Cute illustrations. Perfect for first-time dog adopters.

[Lara Bate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to teach children what is involved in looking after a pet dog.

[Shannon Bradbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really cute read about a family who adopts a dog and their experience of taking care of it. A great read for kids to understand how to take care of a pet.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A how to care for your dog book disguised as a picture book. In the book Sophie the dog comes to live with a new family who goes step by step over how to care for her. One on one or preschool.