Friday, July 25, 2008

The Wiener Dog Magnet by Hayes Roberts

The Wiener Dog Magnet by Hayes RobertsThe funny thing about children's books is that they're not just for children--if I find a good picture book we'll read it over and over (I could recite The Cat in the Hat or Blueberries for Sal in my sleep thank you kindly). When my kids are small they cart their favorites around the house, unwilling to put them down because someone else might snatch them up (apparently my children are rather possessive).

So I was excited when I found a relatively undiscovered picture book. It's not on Amazon, you can't buy it at Barnes & Noble, Borders or Powells and it's called The Wiener Dog Magnet by Hayes Roberts. I found it on an online children's book site by accident.

Lillian, my five year-old, is learning to read and the title caught my eye so we sat down at the computer to read it together and as she labored through each word we started chuckling, then chuckling more until we had read it and re-read it three times. It follows a little monkey named Kiki Marie when she purchases a wiener dog magnet with her allowance.

Lessons learned? Well . . . save up your allowance and you'll have some buying potential. Do a good deed without a thought of reward. Some things that seem to be troublesome may turn out to be good after all and wiener dogs make excellent comic material.

I asked Roberts if the story had been written for a particular child--this one has "bedtime story gone crazy" written all over it and he said:
I've wanted to write children's books since I was a kid, and it wasn't until I had my own kids that I figured out how to do it. Yes, it was written for my then 4 and 2 year olds, and they helped me expand the good parts and remove the boring parts. I'm making one now about invisible alligators that have tunnels under our beds, which was completely my daughter's idea and I'm just stealing it.
The Brave Monkey Pirate by Hayes RobertsYou can view the entire book for yourself at Children's Online Books but the only way I found to purchase it is through Lulu.com, an online publishing site where you can also purchase a second book: The Brave Monkey Pirate (click here to view the book in a PowerPoint slide show) which is just as cute as The Wiener Dog Magnet. Both books are worth it and you get to support an independent author. Kiki Marie might just be the next Curious George--only with street smarts and less mess.



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16 comments:

Heather said...

Now I know what to get a girl I babysit for Christmas. She just got a miniature dachsund! She'll LOVE it! That was just about the cutest book ever!

Gill said...

Thanks so much for posting this! What a cute story, I am sending it to my godson, he will love it I am sure.

Kat Mortensen said...

I don't have any kids, but I love childrens' books. This one was so unique - I adored the illustrations - so quirky and colourful.
Thanks for introducing me to this.

Kat

Michelle Alley said...

This book looks so so cute! I'll have to check it out!

Sherri said...

I agree that so many children's book and shows have an element of adult humor to them.
I'll have to find this one...it looks fun!!

Anonymous said...

Clara got hysterical at the sight of the weiner dog bridge. I had to read that part over and over.

Jennifer said...

I'm going to have to show The Brave Monkey Pirate to my son, and send him on a "treasure hunt" for his own magic rock. He is the worst when it comes to shots... the last time he kicked at the nurse and it took 4 of us to hold him still. He's even hit the doctor for giving his older brother shots before!

Maddy said...

Excellent, those are certainly lessons that we're working on and that looks like a pretty good match for us.
Cheers

Anonymous said...

Great post - we are always looking for new kids books in our house.

Damselfly said...

Looks like fun!

Fly had me read the same book to him seven times in a row yesterday.

Jennifer said...

I adore children's books that have a message for grown ups. But I won't bore you with my very long list :) I will have to get this book.

Unknown said...

My daughter and I spent all morning reading together. Thanks for the link. Fun books.

Flea said...

Love it. Looking forward to buying several as Christmas gifts. :)

Unknown said...

We are a book family. We are now starting Lilys' library. She is only 2 mos. old, so I have a little time. Thi would be the perfect start!

ames said...

Really cute stories!

Anonymous said...

My son has been struggling with pneumonia, very healthy kid, but this one has been hard. We discovered this book while doing neb treatments with pure aloe vera juice, (little advice here), works great!! have them drink it too.. good hydration. Anyways it was the cutest thing ever and it lifted our spirits. We read it three times. I cant wait to read another one. Dont stop writing Mr. Roberts!!!