One-Dog Sleigh

September 9, 2013
Ten years after the publication of Casanova and Hoyt’s One-Dog Canoe, the collaborators bring back the heroine and dog of that book for a boisterous wintry sequel. Like its predecessor, this story also updates the folktale of “The Mitten”: as girl and dog ride through the woods in a cozy red sleigh, one forest animal after another dives in (pity the pony pulling them along). Filled with rhymes, sound effects, cumulative lines (“Sorry, can’t delay. It’s a one-lynx, one-owl, one-squirrel, one-dog sleigh”), and anthropomorphic animal comedy, the story reads a bit like a more talkative and broadly humorous version of Lita Judge’s Red Sled. Ages 4–8.

July 15, 2013
Children intrigued by the idea of a ride in a "one-horse open sleigh" will enjoy this humorous story of a girl and her dog experiencing an old-fashioned mode of winter transportation. Casanova and Hoyt team up again for this sequel to their One-Dog Canoe (2003), with the same little girl narrator and her perky dog again trying to enjoy an outdoor adventure together. Following the same cumulative structure as the first story, a cast of animal characters appears sequentially in the snowy forest, and one by one they crowd into the overloaded sleigh. They encounter a blizzard, the crowded sleigh hits a bump, and "SWOOSH-A-BANG THUMP!": All the critters fly through the air into a snow bank, but they recover and play under the twinkling stars before waving "goodbye / on a crisp winter night." This one has it all: rhyme, rhythm, repetition, humor and a satisfying ending, as girl and dog head back to the warm, brightly lit barn. Charming watercolor-and-ink illustrations provide a variety of perspectives and captivating personalities for the forest-animal friends. Here's hoping for more transportation-themed adventures from this daring (and endearing) duo. (Picture book. 3-7)

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September 1, 2013

PreS-Gr 2-In this cumulative picture book, a girl and her dog hitch a pony to a sleigh. As they ride through snow-covered woods, forest animals exclaim, "I want to play" until they are all riding in a "one-pony, one-mouse, one-bear, one-deer, one-lynx, one-owl, one-squirrel, one-dog sleigh" and get stuck in a snowdrift. A small mouse steps up to navigate as the others push the sleigh to the top of a hill, where they speed down, hit a bump, and crash. Cartoon illustrations in pen and ink convey the weight of the sleigh and depth of the snow. This tale has plenty of repetition, action verbs, and onomatopoeia and is well suited for reading aloud. Emerging readers will also appreciate occasional rhymes, clear text in short sentences, and appealing illustrations full of picture clues.-Julie R. Ranelli, Queen Anne's County Free Library, Stevensville, MD

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