Alison's Puppy

Alison's Puppy by Marion Dane Bauer is a beginning chapter book appropriate for children ages six through eight. In the book, Alison's birthday is coming up and she really wants a puppy. Her family members do not want a puppy because puppies are messy and noisy. Alison's grandfather comes up with a very creative way to help her birthday wish come true and still respect the opinions of the other members of her family. Alison's Puppy focuses on family and pets, themes that children will find very familiar. The storyline progresses quickly and holds the reader's interest and the surprise ending is funny and clever. The author does not describe the characters in great detail but readers learn about them through their dialogue and actions. The illustrations in the book as well as the layout, with small sections of text rather than large blocks of text, make this book a nice transition from picture books.