Poppy the Pirate Dog - (Candlewick Sparks) by Liz Kessler (Paperback)

About the Book

Looking forward to spending a seaside vacation with her family and sharing an adventure on the open sea as a fierce pirate dog, Poppy the Dalmatian loses her courage in the face of numerous bobbing boats, splashing waves, and scary sea creatures.

Book Synopsis

"Good pacing and appealing artwork. . . . Engaging fare for young readers." --Booklist

Poppy the dalmatian can't wait to go on a seaside vacation with her family; she thinks it will be fun to be a pirate dog. But she's afraid of boats! After trying--and failing--to be brave on a fishing boat, a seal-spotting cruise, a pedal boat, and a speedboat, Poppy has almost given up. Will she manage to find her pirate ship before the family heads back home? From New York Times best-selling author Liz Kessler comes a full-color early reader for adventurous young scalawags and their pirate pooches.

Review Quotes

Phillips's playful illustrations rendered in ink and watercolors provide strong context for assistance with word recognition, comprehension, and fluency. In the same vein as Cynthia Rylant's "Henry and Mudge" books, this well-crafted title is sure to be a hit with early readers
--School Library Journal

The text is divided into short chapters, with a large font and lots of white space around the text blocks to assist new readers. Illustrations in watercolor and ink provide an amusing personality for Poppy...
--Kirkus Reviews

Punchy dialogue and ample artwork nicely gear this to recent picture book graduates.
--Publishers Weekly

An amusing tale for readers who are beyond the beginning stage but not quite ready for full-length chapter books. With its good pacing and appealing artwork, the episodic story also works well as a read-aloud choice. ... Engaging fare for young readers.
--Booklist

Comprised of six chapters, the length of the story makes it suitable for a child who is learning to read independently. Presented in a charming manner, the illustrations contribute to the adventuresome feel. This is a nice addition for children who are still mastering their reading skills.
--Library Media Connection

Perfect for kids looking for an adventurous read.
--Newsday

About the Author

Liz Kessler is the author of the beloved Emily Windsnap series, as well as the Philippa Fisher series and the novels A Year Without Autumn and North of Nowhere. She says that Poppy the Pirate Dog is based on her own beautiful dog, Poppy. "After we moved near the ocean, we bought her a skull-and-crossbones scarf," she says. "But the funny thing is that she's a bit scared of water, and that was the inspiration behind this story." Liz Kessler lives in England.

Mike Phillips has been illustrating everything from picture books to the gruesome Horrible Histories series for almost twenty years. He lives in a small fishing village in England with his family and thinks his own dog, who is also named Poppy -- believe it or not! -- may want to be a pirate dog as well.