What Whiskers Did

by Ruth Carroll

Wordless story about a runaway and lost puppy who is befriended by a rabbit family who send him home after a fun filled day.

Genres: Picture Books

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1932

Reviews

[༺Kiki༻ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whiskers and his young companion are out walking one fine snowy morning, when a bunny crosses their path. Whiskers gives chase, and his leash breaks, leaving his little girl behind. Whiskers has a grand adventure, and makes new friends before the day is over.

This was one of my favorite picture books as a child. The charcoal illustrations are charming and expressive. It is out of print, but if you can find a copy, it's well worth picking up.

[Hildegart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book since I was a young girl and even now it still puts a smile on my face. :-) It's a great little book!

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revisiting this c1932 classic wordless book published by Macmillan, listed as an influence on graphic novels for children today. Dedicated to "Hilda K. Limper and the children of the Clifton School in Cincinnati, Ohio", this book has great child appeal.

The adventures of Whiskers, a poodle puppy, who breaks free from his owner while being walked near the woods on a snowy day.

Printed in two colors (black and brown), Carroll's rough sketches are fleshed out just enough that they are like watching stills from a silent movie. They have a feeling of old-fashionedness to them. Words are not needed, as the images tell the story well. It starts as a realistic story about a puppy. Once he goes underground after the rabbit, it becomes animal fantasy - with all animals behaving like people (in a home lit by a candle, sitting in chairs at table eating dinner, playing a game of "blind man's bluff", and the bunnies bawling as their new friend leaves to go home.

This would be charming to share one-on-one with a younger child to build vocabulary (as you explore each image and the actions shown) and learn how to tell a story in chronological order.

Recommended for Toddlers-K.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this wordless picture book. So do my grandkids. We've been 'reading' it over and over and over. Whiskers is black puppy. He and his girl are out for a walk in the snow when Whiskers' leash breaks and he takes off following some rabbit tracks. He has quite the adventures before finally making his way home again.

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has no words so you get to make up your own to go along with it! The artwork is incredibly cute and fun. This book would probably be great for the little ones to create their own tale, adults, and even for older kids for a creative writing project at school. Very sweet little book if you can find it.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great book from a child's perspective to adult. My mother would make up great stories to go along with this book! Just need an imaginative person to tell a cool story to go along with the fun illustrations.

[Jennifer (sullivan) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Picture Book

This book is a cute story with a happy ending. I think most young boys and girls will enjoy this book.