What Dogs Want for Christmas

by Kandy Radzinski

Proving that cats don't have the last word when it comes to making Christmas lists, author and artist Kandy Radzinski returns this holiday season with the canine companion book to last year's favorite, What Cats Want for Christmas. Using witty poems and winsome illustrations, What Dogs Want for Christmas lets our four-footed friends speak for themselves. And what does Man's Best Friend have on his holiday list? Ruffus, a dapper Scottie, would love "something with fur... that once went purr..." while the more practical basset hound Daisy complains, "My ears hang down to my feet. Can you fix them so they're short and neat?" Santa is going to need a bigger sleigh to fulfill some of these holiday wishes! After reading What Dogs Want for Christmas, canine lovers of all ages will think twice before buying another chew toy.Kandy Radzinski received her Master of Science in Art from East Texas State University. She taught art at Central Washington State College and the University of Tulsa. Kandy has illustrated children's books, posters, greeting cards, and even a six-foot penguin. Her books with Sleeping Bear Press include What Cats Want for Christmas and I is for An Inventions Alphabet. Kandy lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Dogs, Holiday, Fiction, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2008

Reviews

[Faloni ©]

Lift up your hand high in the sky if you’d like a smooch from a pooch. If it is a pooch with a porpoise, count us in!Students been really inspired by names of these round hounds for the past few days. The book is a quick read and it’s super duper cute.

[★ gwiz ★]

A sweet and wonderful Christmas book about presents for our 4-legged members of our family.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance]

Who could resist these adorable dogs with their letters to Santa? Best part: Wonderful dog pictures.

[Peacegal]

The illustrations, featuring realistic depictions of canines in winsome poses, are a highlight. Young dog lovers will have fun identifying different breeds and reading the letters each pooch has written to Santa.

Although, I was a little weirded out by the pup who wanted mittens made from the hair of kittens. Apparently, the text has been changed in the version I read, because another reader made reference to the letter wishing for "something that used to purr." (Does that mean the dog wants a dead cat for Christmas?? Really, I don't get the humor in pets hurting each other...cats matter just as much as dogs. ) So in that respect, I suppose the ebook I read is an improvement upon the original text.

[A Allen]

Each illustration shows a dog of a different breed alongside a rhyming letter to Santa. Some of the things the dogs request are quite silly, but my favorite page is the last one which reads: "Dear Santa, What I want most is a loving home, with someone to hold me and call me their own. Love, Scout". I would like this book more if they bumped up the sweetness/cuteness and had different illustrations.

[Deanna]

Lovely rhyming and great illustrations.

[Brittany]

This book is BEAUTIFUL! I will definitely buy this one for my home library for my daughter.

[Stephanie Dobson]

Such a sweet story with beautiful illustrations!

[Alex]

Just as cute as the title suggests!

[Kaitlyn]

Cute book with Cute puppies. One reminded me of Yui.

[Rebecca Caufman]

Dogs write letters to Santa asking him for a gift, the pictures give hints to what Santa gave them.

[Sherry Scheline]

This book is great.

[Kelsey]

This book has very cute pictures of dogs in it, but the letters to Santa text format wasn’t very interesting to me or my child.

[Alice]

3.5 stars
Imagine dogs writing letters to Santa based on characteristics of their breed.

[Jazz Feylynn]

A sweet and wonderful Christmas book about presents for our 4-legged members of our family.

[Staciel]

Wonderful canine illustrations combined with rhyming letters to Santa.

Cute.

[Kristen]

My daughter LOVES dogs, which was the reason I picked up this book. This book is in the form of letters. Each breed of dog writes a letter to Santa about what they want for Christmas. This would be a great book for kindergartners because several of the letters are ambiguous and describe it. You could ask your child what they think the dog is actually asking for. Some of the illustrations help young readers to deduce the information. My daughter is only 2, so I just told her.

My daughter LOVED pointing at each dog on each page. She had a lot of fun reading this and I actually enjoyed it as well. I was surprised by this book.

[Homewood Public Library]

Ever thought about what your favorite four-legged friend would want for Christmas? Radzainski looks into the hearts of man’s best friend for a sweet story about the simple things that dogs love. If you are a dog lover, go ahead and check out What Dogs Want For Christmas, because it is sure to be a new Christmas favorite!

[Maria Waltner]

This is very cute with great illustrations. The words/story I felt was a little lacking though. They were little poem letters to Santa but it was missing something. The best page was the last one where the little dog was asking for a home.

[Joan]

My Corgi, Smarty Boy Baxter, is featured in this book, so this is just a shameless plug for him.

[The Library Lady]

It's pretty saccharine. But the dog illustrations are gorgeous. And there's a cat version as well, so I'll give her credit where credit is due :}

[Deni Johansson]

I read this whimsical book to my 5 yr old (soon to be 6) and we both enjoyed it. It also has really good artwork, illustrations of cute dog breeds.

[Zoe]

Cute.
Cute pictures.

[Carolyn]

AR 2.5 -- 0.5
WONDERFUL book with terrific & humorous illustrations. Love the one with the dog wearing kitty slippers. Author/illustrator captures dogs' eyes wonderfully.

[Judith]

This books combines my two favorite things: Dogs and Christmas. How could this book be anything but amazing?

[Beverly]

Very realistic illustrations of the dogs, as the illustrator put in every hair on their furry little bodies.

[Laura]

Short, rhyming letters to Santa written by dogs. The illustrations are lovely and the letters are short and sweet. Perfect for dog-loving preschoolers excited about Christmas.

[Emi えみ Takami 鷹見]

This is so wonderful!!! I loved it.

[Scooter Reads]

Read dis one with Momma at Christmas. Is very accurate on what dachshund wants.

[Jnase1]

I think young kids will like the pictures in this book.