Pizza for Sam

May 1, 2003
PreS-Gr 2-Beginning readers will delight in these stories about an adorable white-and-black puppy. In Pizza, Joan and Bob prepare for a party and welcome guests who bring more delicacies, but Bob gives Sam dog food-"YUCK!" After hearing that "Cake is not for puppies.-Cookies are not for puppies.-Pie is not for puppies," the canine seizes the opportunity to devour an unattended pizza, "YUM!" In Monster, Sam watches TV while her owners are out. When a "big green monster" leaves the screen, Sam decides it is hiding in the house. She searches for it and tears apart a large green bag in the kitchen closet, scattering cookies, cake, and pizza bits all over the floor. Although Joan and Bob are dismayed at the mess, Sam is proud, for she "chased the big green monster away." Children demystifying life and language will surely identify with the pup's antics. Sarrazin's pastel illustrations provide contextual picture clues as they render the animal fluffy and cuddly, in a household of rich, warm colors and an expressive couple. Sam will be quite at home with the likes of Biscuit and Mudge.-Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2003
PreS\endash Gr. 1. An adorable, finicky, black-and-white mutt romps through the pages of this lowest-level easy reader. Sam the dog watches eagerly as his owners set out cakes, cookies, and pies for a party. But each time Sam approaches the food table, he's shooed away: "Not for puppies!" Then Sam's presented with traditional dog food, but he turns up his snout, preferring to go hungry . . . until a pizza arrives and he finds his perfect puppy chow. Winsome pastel illustrations combine with a few large-type sentences per page in an attractive, uncluttered layout. The basic, repetitive text is filled with action, noise, and enough suspense and silliness to engage new readers, and large images of big-eyed, sly Sam will help maintain interest. A fine entry in the Kids Can Read series. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2003
After being told puppies don't eat cake and cookies in "Pizza", Sam, an English sheepdog puppy, steals a pizza at her owner's party. Sam, thinking she's attacking a monster, shreds a full garbage bag and declares herself a hero in "Finds". Although the illustrations verge on being overly cute, they provide visual clues and Sam's amusing antics will tickle beginning readers. [Review covers these Kids Can Read titles: "Pizza for Sam" and "Sam Finds a Monster". ]

(Copyright 2003 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)