Five inquisitive siblings dig holes under the garden fence to explore the wider world. While four puppies return home together and face the consequences of their behavior, the fifth puppy lags behind, distracted by his own curiosity. This poky puppy consistently avoids the punishments his siblings endure, such as missing dessert. Instead, he discovers ways to sneak into the house to eat chocolate custard and rice pudding while his brothers and sisters sleep. Eventually, the mother dog fills the hole under the fence to stop the escape attempts, and the poky puppy discovers he has missed out on the reward he expected.
Toddlers and early readers encounter a concrete lesson about the relationship between choices and outcomes. The story uses repetition and counting to help young children follow the sequence of the puppies' adventures. Readers finish the book with a basic understanding of fairness and the idea that being late or disobedient can lead to missed opportunities. Parents find the rhythmic structure and the predictable cycle of discovery and homecoming useful for establishing a consistent bedtime routine.
Practical, outward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Practical Optimizer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1942
- Language
- EN
