| Dav Pilkey |
| ISBN 9780545661362 |
| Scholastic , 2014. |
4 ½ stars |
| Keywords: bravery dav-pilkey dogs dress-up hallo-wiener halloween humor kindness |
The Hallo-Wiener
by Dav Pilkey
Oscar the Dachshund may be "half-a-dog tall and one-and-a-half dogs long," but he wears his size with style.
He doesn't like it when the other canines call him "Wiener Dog!" Oscar's mother makes matters worse when she gets him a Halloween costume that's a bun ("he nearly fainted"). Not wanting to hurt her feelings, he goes trick-or-treating as a true "Wiener Dog," and the others howl with laughter. But when the other dogs feel threatened by a pumpkin-headed monster, Oscar's perception and physique give him a unique advantage: he saves the day--and gets a treat for his trick.
Dav Pilkey's (Captain Underpants) warm palette and down-to-earth hero keep the fright at bay. The humor may be a bit sophisticated for a board book tale, but the message that small can be smart will buoy preschoolers who are starting to stand up for themselves.
He doesn't like it when the other canines call him "Wiener Dog!" Oscar's mother makes matters worse when she gets him a Halloween costume that's a bun ("he nearly fainted"). Not wanting to hurt her feelings, he goes trick-or-treating as a true "Wiener Dog," and the others howl with laughter. But when the other dogs feel threatened by a pumpkin-headed monster, Oscar's perception and physique give him a unique advantage: he saves the day--and gets a treat for his trick.
Dav Pilkey's (Captain Underpants) warm palette and down-to-earth hero keep the fright at bay. The humor may be a bit sophisticated for a board book tale, but the message that small can be smart will buoy preschoolers who are starting to stand up for themselves.