Title: Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep
Author/Illustrator: Eric Barclay
Publisher: Harper Collins, 2019
Intended Ages: 4-8
Themes: Friendship, Humor, Identity
Opening Line(s):
"This is Sheep. She loves to dance."
Synopsis: A young sheep thinks she is an expert on watching sheep, and shares her knowledge with the sheep dog to help him do his job.
What I like about this book: When I was growing up, my family had a small flock of eleven sheep. And they do have personalities! This book highlights the main characters' disparate personalities, and ends with a heart-warming surprise. The illustrations paint bucolic scenes that highlight the humor as dangers are narrowly averted. The chubby, ambulatory upright sheep almost looks like a child in sheep's clothing, intensifying sheep's carefree child-like relationship with the adult-like even-tempered dog.
Resources:
- Make your own Sheep sheep. For preschoolers - All kids network has a fun craft.
- For older children, Red Ted Art has cute sheep crafts. Who knew you could make a rock look like a sheep?!
- Talk about different jobs and what tools you need to do them. Do you need to look a certain way? Why or why not?
- Visit a petting zoo or farm and visit real sheep
- Read other sheep books like Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski or Can't Sleep Without Sheep by Susanna Leonard Hill. Which book is your favorite? Which sheep would you like as a friend?
- Discuss other jobs dogs do
This review is part of PPBF (Perfect Picture Book Friday) where bloggers share great picture books. Organized and curated by author Susanna Leonard Hill, she keeps an ever-growing list of Perfect Picture Books. #PPBF
