Homer

by Diane deGroat, Shelley Rotner

Overview

When the Doggers take on the mighty Hounds in a baseball game, Homer hits a grand slam!

Alex loves baseball. So does his dog, Homer. One starry night, after Alex goes to sleep, Homer and his canine friends get ready for their big baseball game. Find out who will be the champions of the dog baseball world when Homer and the Doggers take on the mighty Hounds.

Can Homer hit a home run and save the day?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545332729
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	03/01/2012
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Shelley Rotner is the award-winning author and photo-illustrator of more than 30 children’s books, including DOGS DON'T BRUSH THEIR TEETH!, SHADES OF PEOPLE, I’M ADOPTED!, and EVERY SEASON. She lives in Northampton, Massachusetts. Visit her online at www.shelleyrotner.com.

Diane deGroat is the author-illustrator of DOGS DON'T BRUSH THEIR TEETH! and the bestselling Gilbert and Friends series. She is the illustrator of 120 additional books, including Ree Drummond’s bestselling CHARLIE THE RANCH DOG. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts. Visit her online at www.dianedegroat.com.

Editorial Reviews

The team behind Dogs Don’t Brush Their Teeth returns with an even more outrageous canine adventure, illustrated with digitally enhanced photos to an almost comic book?like effect. On “one special night,” golden retriever Homer sneaks out to join his teammates, the “Doggers,” in a baseball game against the “Hounds” (endpapers feature baseball cards of the players from both teams, identifying their breeds). The dogs assume human poses and wear digitally drafted uniforms as they take the field; meanwhile dog fans yowl, yip, and enjoy ballpark treats in the bleachers. The artwork is filled with humorous details—from border terrier Rocket relieving himself on a fire hydrant before hitting a single, to a closeup of Homer clutching the bat as his fans swoon. The game-time tension, along with the innate goofiness of the artwork, could make this a dog-eared favorite. Ages 4?8. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Dogs Don't Brush Their Teeth!
Time Magazine's Top Ten Children's Books for 2009
Winner of the 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Book Award

"An entertaining choice for kids who like to think they can read long before they really can." -Oppenheim Toy Portfolio

From the Publisher

Anyone who likes dogs and baseball is likely to be amused or even enchanted by this dream tale of how Alex's Golden Retriever leads his Dogger's team to victory over their mixed breed rivals of the mighty hounds. On the other hand, anyone who dislikes William Wegman's dressed up and posed-dog books is likely to be put off by this. The story is spun in a photo graphic novel style. The photo-shopped in details play with many of the cliches of baseball and the fervor of its fans. Of course, given the dog's name—Casey—and the title Homer, it is not surprising that Alex's dog scores the winning home run with two strikes out and brings the winning ball back to his dreaming owner, autographed by his team-mates. Baseball card portraits of all eighteen team members complete the joke. Reviewer: Mary Hynes-Berry

Children's Literature - Mary Hynes-Berry

PreS-Gr 2—Homer is a golden retriever who loves baseball. And he has a secret. At night he meets with his friends to play the game. On this particular evening, it's the Hounds versus the Doggers, with nothing less than the championship at stake. After an inauspicious start, the Doggers come from behind, thanks to Homer's grand slam, and become the new champions. Incorporating the same photographic and digital art technique they used in Dogs Don't Brush Their Teeth! (Scholastic, 2009), the authors have crafted a story that plays with many of the trademark details of a baseball game. When one player draws a walk, he is literally walked—on a leash—to first base. The dogs in the stands sport foam paws and pennants as they "yip and yowl for the home team." A plaque in the Doggers' club bears the names of players who have made the "Howl of Fame," and the endpapers feature baseball cards showing both teams. The illustrations are quite humorous, with many of the pups' expressions just perfect for the situation at hand: a bug-eyed bulldog umpire calling an enthusiastic "Strike!"; a sheepish-looking terrier trudging back to the dugout after striking out; a determined Homer on the scent of a game-winning hit. While the story can easily be shared with a group, the fun of the book is in independently poring over the many, many dogs taking part in the story. Sure to have wide appeal.—Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA

School Library Journal

Alex and Homer live, breathe and dream baseball. But this is Homer's story. There's a big game tonight, one that will decide the league champion. Homer's team is down by three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Some nice hitting loads the bases, and needless to say Homer hits a grand slam. It's just a typical baseball tale. But the teams are the Hounds and the Doggers, and all the players are dogs of many breeds, as are the umpires, spectators and the announcer. The story is told with the briefest of simple phrases and sentences, some in speech or thought bubbles, and illustrated with double-page spreads and album-like panels of digitally collaged photographs. The format is everything here. The digital art supplies the uniforms, banners and other odds and ends, while the dogs have been photographed in myriad head poses and body positions. A few might have been digitally enhanced, but if so, they are seamless. Young readers will surely giggle at puns like, "It's going to be a ruff game!" There's also a distracting squirrel and a well-placed fire hydrant. Alex wakes to find Homer in his usual place, but there's an autographed ball on the rug…. Even the endpapers are part of the fun, taking the form of doggie baseball cards. A howlingly good time. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews