The Christmas Puppy

My son loves reading this book.

A sweet little holiday story—my boys (ages 4 & 8) and I read this over the course of a week for our bedtime reading, and it brought up some terrific conversation, especially with the twist at the end. It was neat talking to them about what a “dilemma” is and how some issues have no clear good answer, talking about kindness, and even about (after reading the author’s note) how writers can use real life and their imagination to create new stories. I was surprisingly pleased with this little book!

"The Christmas Puppy" is a heartwarming children's Christmas book. It would make a great stocking stuffer. The book is small -- 5 1/2 inches by 8 1/4 inches and has only 58 pages. The book can be read by most children in one sitting. The reading level is about Third or Fourth Grade. The book contains fourteen really small illustrations done in full color in what look like watercolors. The beautiful full color pictorial cover depicts a charming golden puppy inside a Christmas wreath. The story seems to contain all the elements of a wonderful Christmas story -- a family adopts a mischievous puppy at the shelter and learns to love it, one day the puppy gets loose and the family can't find it, a lonely old man finds the puppy and cares for him, the original owners discover the puppy and want it back and the family performs a true act of love and sacrifice for the lonely old man. However, the first three-quarters of the book is rather weak. It isn't until you get to the end of the story that you experience the real love, sacrifice, meaning and giving of the Christmas spirit. You will want to read this book to the end (even though the first three-quarters are a slight bit weak and difficult to keep you interested) to experience this wonderful act of love on the part of the original owners of the puppy.

It shows that families can't be apart and the pictures are pretty. the book is also based on a true story.

I read this when I was in the 3rd grade and it broke my heart. I hated what happens in the end, and up until that point, it is not very interesting and drags on until it gets to the part that made me angry. I hated this book then and I still hate it now. Get this book if you want to make your self or your child cry and get mad.