The Dog Who Came to Dinner

by Sydney Taylor, John Emil Johnson (Illustrator)

Reading Levels vary with each set, but range from 1.5 - 2.5.

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Sydney Taylor, born Sarah Brenner in New York City to German-Jewish immigrant parents, became one of the most beloved chroniclers of Jewish-American childhood in the twentieth century. Growing up on the Lower East Side and later in the Bronx as one of five lively sisters, she drew deeply on family memories, neighborhood traditions, and the rhythms of immigrant life to shape the world that would define her fiction. Before turning to writing, she worked a variety of office jobs, studied dance with modern pioneer Martha Graham, performed with experimental theater groups, and spent many summers at a Jewish camp where storytelling and theatrical productions flourished. Her breakthrough came when her husband secretly submitted her manuscript to a children’s book contest, resulting in the award-winning publication of All-of-a-Kind Family, the first in a series that warmly portrays the joys, struggles, holidays, and everyday adventures of a close-knit Jewish family in early twentieth-century New York. The books were notable for presenting Jewish life as ordinary, affectionate, and distinctly American at a time when such representation was rare in children’s literature. Taylor continued writing sequels and other works for young readers, though none equaled the cultural impact of her signature series. She died in 1978, leaving a legacy honored by the Sydney Taylor Book Award, which celebrates outstanding Jewish children’s literature.

Reviews

[Ginny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute beginning reader.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my, what a cute little quirky story!

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank thought this was pretty silly. He liked it.