Little kids and imagination go together perfectly, and with the new picture book by Jamie A. Swenson, children can pretend while they read along. If You Were a Dog, with Chris Raschka’s signature whimsical watercolors, is a delightfully fun read.
The text of this picture book talks directly to the reader, asking them to imagine themselves as a variety of animals and offering ideas of the ways in which they would act as those creatures.
If you were a dog, would you be a speedy-quick, lickety-sloppidy, scavenge-the-garbage, frisbee-catching, hot-dog-stealing, pillow-hogging, best-friend-ever sort of dog?
The characteristics offered for dogs, cats, birds, and even dinosaurs, are spot-on and use creatively descriptive language that is fun to read aloud, allowing for the adult reading this to young children to really bring the text to life. With an imaginative flair, this story would be perfect for a class read aloud, encouraging children to join in with the parts in which the animals howl, hiss, or swoosh through the skies.
Chris Raschka has been recognized with one Caldecott Honor and two Caldecott Medals, and his style’s appeal to me lies in its use of vibrant colors and broad watercolor brushstrokes. He captures the cuteness of animals with his thick lines and colorfully engaging illustrations.
If You Were a Dog is rich in language and gorgeous in presentation, a perfect combination in a book for preschoolers and young elementary school aged children.
Enter to Win
Would you like to win a copy of this picture book for your child’s collection? Please follow the directions in the widget below to enter. Contest open to U.S. residents only.
We are dog lovers at my house and would love this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
I like books that use watercolors as illustrations.
I would to win this to read to my kids. Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
My son would love this book..Ty for the chance.
I would love to win this book for my grandson.
If I were a dog, I’d want to be a Westie!
My young niece is starting to read, so this would be a good book for her!
Looks like a fun giveaway. Thanks!
I entered the Children’s Activity Atlas giveaway.
I would love this for my kids.
Looks like a great book
I have a nephew that is learning to read. I think he would enjoy this since he has a wild imagination.
I’d love to win this book for my daughter, she would enjoy it.
I think my oldest granddaughter would enjoy it.
I loved books as a kid so I hope my kids will too.
Would love it for my girls
I love the idea of this book. Would be nice for my son. I want him to have lots of books!
I think my youngest son would like this book!
Sounds like a great book for younger kids.
This looks like a cute book, thanks!
This book looks so cute!
This would probably be one of my sons favorite books! He loves anything involving “woof woofs”.
What a cute book. My daughter would love it
My son is a little uneasy around dogs so this might be a perfect book for him!
This looks like a really cute book. Would love to share it with my daughter. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for the chance to win this for my son
This would be a great book to add to his collection.
Sounds amazing — my daughter would love
My sons would love this! My sons are 5 and 7 and love animal books!
This book is so cute. I just know my daughter would love it. Thanks for having the giveaway.
This looks like a cute book!
My niece would absolutely love this book – hoping to win!
If I were a dog I would be a Collie.
This looks like a great book, thanks for the chance
my grandsons would love this
Thanks for the chance!
This sounds like a wonderful book!
My kids love picture books and this looks like a cute one they would both like.
This would be a cute book for introducing kids to dogs!
My son and I love reading together!
Thanks for the giveaway!
You can’t go wrong with a picture book featuring dogs. ^^
This book sounds cute. My kids would love it
I love dogs and would probably enjoy this book.
I think my nephew would like this
My kids would absolutely love this book.
I know just the little kid I would gift this to for Christmas.
This looks really cute! My grandsons would love it!
My oldest son loves dogs and my youngest loves books so finally a book that can enjoy together 🙂 ?
My boys would love this book!
My little ones would love this book!
My sweet little guy loves dogs and would love this book!
This sounds like a wonderful book it is so hard now days to get kids to break away from the computer or TV and use their imaginations. I am the director of a kids Adventurer club and it feels more and more like entertaining them. I work very hard at engaging them in our activities. This book will fit right in with what I do. I will also enjoy reading it to my granddaughter.
i’ve been looking for books that my daughter can try to read on her own, i think this one could be one.
Looks like a cute book to read with my son!
My son would love this book!
My godchild would enjoy this, love anything about dogs!
I’d love this book for my son!
I love that this book encourages kids’ imaginations.
This looks like a book my five year old would enjoy.
I would love to read this book to my granddaughter and grandson. Lovely. thanks.
This sounds like a great book I would love to have this to read to my son.
sounds like a great book for my granddaughter