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Summary
Summary
Can an ugly dog with a heart of gold find a home? A warm and clever picture book for animal lovers of any breed.
When Spike, the winner of the Ugliest Dog in the Universe contest, is abandoned by his owner, Joe, the boy next door, is determined--against all odds--to adopt him. Things look grim until Spike foils a neighborhood catnapping plan--and saves the day!
Author Notes
Debra Frasier has written and illustrated many acclaimed picture books, including A Fabulous Fair Alphabet ; Miss Alaineus: A Vocabulary Disaster ; and the beloved and bestselling On the Day You Were Born . She lives in Asheville, North Carolina.
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Using secondhand denim both for a canvas and for collaged elements, Frasier (A Fabulous Fair Alphabet) tells the happy-sad story of a sensitive canine soul. As if it isn't bad enough that Spike wins an "Ugliest Dog in the Universe" contest ("A dog can't help the way he looks. Get to know me! I'm good-hearted. Loyal. Smart"), he is then abandoned by his jerk of an owner. His journey from potential animal shelter inmate to hometown hero (he foils a cat-napping) and member of a loving home isn't the smoothest; Frasier is a talky writer with a fondness for exclamation points and asides. But she's also an undeniably inventive artist who uses her raw material in unexpected ways-turning multiple waistbands into a frame, making the jeans' double stitching serve as steps on a porch, and playing with rips and frays to convey a sense of inner beauty exposed. And Spike himself is very much like a pair of well-worn, much-loved jeans. Not conventionally pretty? Sure. Steadfast and comforting? Absolutely. Ages 4-8. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Dog Spike describes his devastation after his owner enters him in an ugliest dog contest (he wins) and then abandons him. The meandering story has engaging-enough plot elements--a neighbor boy works to adopt him and Spike thwarts an attempted petnapping--but the primary interest is in Frasier's remarkable collage art, which employs, among other fabrics, parts of 129 pairs of blue jeans. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Spike is a short, squat canine whose master leaves him for a cat-loving girlfriend but not before forcing the poor fellow to enter the Ugliest Dog in the Universe contest. After his picture gets in the paper for all the wrong reasons and he's abandoned to his own devices, Spike is found by Joe, a neighborhood boy who loves the little guy but whose family cannot afford to keep a dog. Despite advice from a dainty cat, a trip to the dog pound looks inevitable. But Spike gets a chance to prove that creatures who may look rough around the edges can still be big-hearted, quick-thinking, courageous stalwarts, and he earns himself a future of warm companionship. An affectionately humorous tale with big stakes (especially for dog lovers) and a classic refrain of don't judge a book by its cover are bolstered by unusual collage-style illustrations, prominently featuring torn jeans. This may sound odd on the surface, but the swaths of ripped denim give Spike and his story just the scrappy, ragtag feel they need.--Karp, Jesse Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-After winning an "Ugliest Dog in the Universe" contest, Spike is abandoned by his owner, due to his owner's cat-loving girlfriend. The friendly canine finds temporary shelter with Joe, the boy next door, but they must try to convince Joe's mom to let him stay. Desperate to avoid the pound, Spike seeks advice on how to be beautiful from an award-winning cat, Evangeline. Later, in a weird twist, he ends up saving her from being catnapped, becoming a hero. Ending with a two-page essay by Joe on "How I Draw Dogs," the story feels overcomplicated and convoluted. Characters are crafted from fabric and paper with mixed results. Spike definitely looks ugly and fits well into the story, and Evangeline is beautifully created from an old dress. However, the other characters don't look as well constructed as those in Frasier's earlier, breathtaking works. The background is made from torn old jeans, and although the artist uses them creatively, it's questionable whether they add anything to the piece. In the end, the subject matter will appeal to some readers, but there are many other dog books with better illustrations and more-developed stories.-Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Spike, an abandoned "Ugliest Dog in the Universe"contest winner, finds love and a new home in this heartwarming tale about beauty--and its many permutations. Verbally abused and cast away, Spike's resilience and optimism remain--largely due to Joe, the kind boy from next door. First-person narration makes the dog all the more endearing: "If you could see inside my heart, you'd say...beautiful." Joe's mom, while sympathetic, says they can't afford a dog, so Spike works hard to charm her. With an earnest sincerity, he explains his efforts to become more appealing. It's only when Spike spoils a catnapping scheme and Joe is paid for a published drawing of Spike that the dog and boy are finally united. Frasier's exceptional artwork and text will have readers rooting for the lovable Spike. Using found materials, she creates ingenious collages that act as metaphors, revealing beauty in what once appeared useless and worn-out. Blue jeans tell Spike's story, hard-working and durable; they also connect him to Joe and his mom, who both wear the fabric. Evangeline, the award-winning cat, is surrounded by silk and lace. Seamlessly integrated design enhances both emotional and comedic beats, as the author reveals beauty in its myriad forms. Brilliant. (Picture book. 4-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.