  | Sammy in the sky Author: Walsh, Barbara | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
A little girl tells about her special pet hound dog and how, after he gets sick and dies, she comes to know the truth of her mother's words that his spirit is everywhere.
| Illustrator: | Wyeth, Jamie |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 3.40 Points: .5 Quiz: 146252 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: K-2 Reading Level: 3.50 Points: 1.0 Quiz: 54997 | |
Common Core Standards
Grade K → Reading → RL Literature → K.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade K → Reading → RL Literature → K.RL Craft & Structure
Grade K → Reading → RL Literature → K.RL Integration of Knowledge & Ideas
Grade 1 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 1.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 1 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 1.RL Range of Reading & Level of Text Complexity
Grade 2 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 2.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 2 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 2.RL Range of Reading & Level of Text Complexity
Grade 2 → Reading → CCR College & Career Readiness Anchor Standards fo
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (07/01/11)
School Library Journal (08/01/11)
Booklist (08/01/11)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 08/01/2011 Sammy is “the best hound dog in the whole world.” He chases seagulls on the beach, pops bubbles in his favorite field, and suffers the indignities of dress-up with tolerance and grace. After he dies, the girl’s parents explain that he is everywhere now, and the family holds “a special celebration” to honor him. Though the girl struggles to accept her loss, she finally thinks she sees Sammy among the clouds, happily chasing bubbles. Walsh’s unflinching text offers an honest account of a beloved pet’s illness and death and the complex emotions grief brings. Wyeth’s vivid, painterly watercolors dance across the book’s spreads and add notes as they echo the joy of Sammy’s life and the sadness of his loss. The direct narrative and more sentimental artwork combine to create a story that is universally touching. - Copyright 2011 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 08/01/2011 K-Gr 3—This tale of a young girl and her beloved dog whose life comes to its inevitable natural end will have broad appeal. Peering out from the opening page with soulful, winning eyes, Sammy is the "best hound dog in the whole world." He loves to play and keeps his young owner safe at night. But Sammy develops a sickness that medicine won't cure, and as he displays increasing physical infirmities, the girl's parents gently prepare her for his death. The girl comes to terms with her grief several months later when her family holds a "special celebration" on a nearby ocean beach. Seeing Sammy's shape in a passing cloud, the child begins to understand how he'll always be with her in spirit. This timeless story, told in straightforward prose, is brought to life in textured, soft-edged watercolor paintings in a predominant palette of blue, green, and gold. The feelings of the protagonist and the playful personality of the dog are palpably rendered in their facial expressions and body language. A generous trim size, universal subject appeal, and striking artwork add up to a picture book that can be enjoyed one-on-one or read independently.—Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT - Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
