Can I Be Your Dog? Picture Book {A Review and Giveaway}

We had the opportunity to read an adorable picture book titled Can I Be Your Dog?.

This 36-page, hardcover book is written by author/illustrator Troy Cummings. It is suitable for young preschool and early-elementary school children, around 3-7 years old, give or take a couple of years. My children all enjoyed this book.

Can I Be Your Dog? is a sweet, heart-warming tale of a homeless mutt who is looking for a home. The story is told through a series of letters Arfy the dog writes and the responses he receives. He tries finding a home with all the people on Butternut Street, telling each prospective owner how he would make a great pet just for them.

For example, he tells the family in the yellow house how good he would be as a pet for children. And he tells the butcher lady how he could help keep her floor clean. For each of the five places, he lists what would be beneficial for the owner.

Unfortunately, he keeps getting rejected.

He gets more and more dejected after each time he is turned down.

Though usually the owners are at least polite about it.

That is until he asks the junk shop owner.

Who is just plain rude to him.

Sadly he runs out of places on Butternut Street to ask. But the next morning, he is in for a pleasant surprise.

He receives a letter asking if the sender can be his person. And he runs off to find the person.

I'm not going to tell you who that person is, but maybe you can figure it out. Either way, it's a sweet, sweet ending to this story. A story about a pet who searches and searches, and finally finds a home.

This story really does tug at your heartstrings. Personally, we can't have pets because of my allergies, but there are so many animals out there that need homes, I wish we could.

I love that the story is told through the letters. Not only can children read a sweet tale, but they can learn about letter writing and even how to address envelopes. There are different kinds of letters as well.

The double page spread in the front of the book features different dog-related stamps.

And the back of the book shows a map of the neighborhood. You'll also find a list of ways to help a homeless animal.

As I mentioned, the children really enjoyed this story. Harold had a blast reading it himself.

This is such a sweet book and I fell in love with it instantly. I highly recommend Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings.

Can I Be Your Dog? is published by Random House Children's Books. You can purchase the book for $16.99.

Here's a little more information about the author/illustrator:

Troy Cummings has written and illustrated a pile of picture books, including The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out, Little Red Gliding Hood, and the Notebook of Doom chapter-book series. In addition to books, Troy's illustrations have appeared on animated backdrops for an opera, a package of fish sticks, jigsaw puzzles, iPad pop-up books, posters, a cookbook for dogs, newspapters, magazines, and greeting cards. You can find him at troycummings.net.

And now for the great news! One of my readers will get to win their own copy of Can I Be Your Dog?. 

Giveaway Time!

All you need to do is enter in the Rafflecopter form below. 

There are only 2 simple mandatory entries, with the remainder of the entries being optional. 

Remember, you do not have to do the extra entries, but they will increase your odds of winning. 

This giveaway is open to US residents 18 and over. 

The giveaway runs July 14th through July 29th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a hardcover copy of Can I Be Your Dog? in exchange for my honest review. No further compensation was given. This did not in any way influence my review. I only recommend products I use personally and feel will be a good products for my readers.