Dog in Boots

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gormley, Greg. 2011. Dog in boots. Ill. by Roberta Angaramo. New York: Holiday House, Inc. ISBN 9780823423477

PLOT SUMMARY

After reading the adventurous tale of Puss in Boots, Dog decides he wants a pair of boots too. He discovers that the boots do not meet his needs. After trading in shoe after shoe, he realizes his paws best suit his needs!

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley is inspired by the 17^th Century fairy tale Puss in Boots. In this book, the main character, Dog, interacts with humans—he speaks their language, too! Dog shows his persistence in finding the perfect footwear, an admirable trait in a protagonist.

The plot is logically constructed with Dog’s sequence of trial and error with each pair of shoes. Each set of shoes seems to serve only one purpose. He is forced to trade them in for what he hopes to be a better pair. The conflict continues in this pattern until the shop owner points out the solution: Dog’s paws are the perfect fit for all the tasks he needs done!

Gormley does not set this story in a very specific location. The reader learns it takes place in a country with a monarch. (The queen sends Dog away after swimming in her lake.) Based on the illustrations, the humans appear to be Caucasian. The location of the story matters little in relation to the plot.

The author also does not indicate the time frame of the story. One might assume Dog goes through this situation in one day’s time; however, there is no real proof.

Dog in Boots contains two underlying themes. The first is persistence. Dog returns to the shoe shop many times in search of the perfect shoe. He is determined, and does not give up, no matter how unhelpful the previous shoe was.

The second theme is one of self-confidence. Dog thinks he needs something he does not have to do his jobs successfully when he possessed the tools (paws) all along. Both of the themes are presented passively rather than blatantly clear.

The illustrations complement the witty, quick-moving plot. Full-page illustrations draw readers’ attention. Moods and emotions are pictured. For example, when Dog wears the rain boots swimming, the fish at the bottom of the lake have looks of fear on their faces, as does Dog. Illustrator Roberta Angaramo deserves high praise for her wonderful depiction of this playful story.

Dog in Boots lacks much cultural detail. The extent of it includes the presence of a queen, the skin tone of the two human characters, and the inclusion of 17^th Century French fairy tales.

Dog in Boots will secure readers’ attentions with its fast-paced story, Dog’s hilarious antics, and brightly colored illustrations.

AWARDS AND REVIEWS

Bluebonnet Award Nominee, Texas, 2012
Texas 2x2 Award Nominee, 2012

“With a repetitive text filled with sly, kid-friendly jokes and comical, expressive acrylic paintings, this title exudes storytime fun.”—Booklist, March 2011

“Kids will enjoy the book’s playful premise and endearing main character, whose exuberant, tongue-lolling personality comes across vividly through Greg Gormley’s inventive text and Roberta Angaramo’s colorful illustrations.” –Children’s Literature

“A truly enjoyable selection and a nice follow-up to a favorite fairy tale, just right for reading aloud.” –Kirkus, Feb. 2011

CONNECTIONS

To be continued…

Dog in Boots leaves the end of the story hanging, perfect for a sequel. With a group, choose to either write/illustrate or script/perform the sequel to Dog in Boots. Be sure to give your book or play an amusing title!

Once Upon a Time

The inspiration for Dog in Boots came from the fairy tale Puss in Boots. Research other fairy tales (not just ones with European origins), and create a story similar to Dog in Boots. Your story should have a character who has been motivated to act based on something he/she has read.

Design a Shoe

Dog tried lots of different shoes to meet his need. You will design a shoe for another animal that meets all its needs. Begin by brainstorming the daily tasks and activities your animal does. Then sketch out a shoe that is able to do all those things. Be sure to label how the shoe meets the animal’s needs.