Ivan the Terrier

by Peter Catalanotto

Book Overview

Ivan loves a good story. Like that one about the three bears or those three gruff billy goats. Where else can a dog find such playmates action fun... or a cookie? Ivan's own good story lands him just where he loves to be. In your lap.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416912479
• ISBN13: 9781416912477
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Atheneum Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 9.4" x 10.2"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Long Live the Terrier

Peter Catalanotto's IVAN THE TERRIER brings a breath of fresh air to the multiplicity of fractured fairy tales that dot the landscape of children's literature. This deceptively simple story is a treasure trove for all, children, parents, teachers, and dog lovers everywhere. The joyful, interactive text is seamlessly synthesized with beautiful paintings that are filled with visual clues as the story unfolds. Ivan, a feisty Jack Russell, demands his own story by consistently interrupting the narrator's attempt to tell traditional fairy tales. Ivan's antics to stop the stories always elicits laughter and cheers from children of all ages. But alas when he finally achieves his goal, Ivan is too tired to care. The final page shows him trundling off to bed. Children easily identify with Ivan and they instinctively know he'll try again. IVAN THE TERRIER appeals to children on many levels: it is a laugh out loud story, the art is beautiful and filled with new discoveries on each viewing, and every child has faced frustration trying to make his/her wishes known. As a children's librarian who works in classrooms regularly, I have used this book with Head Start, elementary and middle school children, as well as with educators. It is always a crowd pleaser, but it is also an excellent book for older children to use as a jumping off point for writing their own fractured fairy tales, and for even older children, the ending is a classic way of explaining the concept of irony. IVAN THE TERRIER is a treasure for children to read and read again, and a treasure trove for educators of older children. Peter Catalanotto has created a book that should become a classic.

My 2 1/2 year-old loves it! (me,too!)

My duaghter just loves this book. She doesn't totally get it because she only knows one of the bedtime tales that Ivan interrupts so far (the three bears) but she thinks the others are funny, all the same. It is a book she will grow with, as she learns the other stories. She loves to anticipate what will happen on the next page, and joins in scolding Ivan. We have fun reading it with her. When she isn't reading it, she still brings up Ivan's antics in conversation. As for me, I love the illustrations.

Hilarious book for book loving children of all ages!

I have three children ages 3, 5 and 9. They all love this book. If your children are book lovers, this is a great book for them. The fairy tales "interrupted" are basic enough that most children exposed to a variety of books will be familar with some, if not all. The illustrations are clever and lots of fun.

We never tire of Ivan!

I bought this book for my 5 year old son. We took it to school for Show and Tell (his teacher is a big Peter Catalanotto fan) and read it to his Kindergarten class. The kids loved the book and couldn't wait for me to turn each page. They were anticipating what might happen next and were fully engaged in this simple yet clever story.If you want your child to participate in story time or get excited about writing their own stories this is the book to get.

Our new bedtime favorite!

My children, ages 5-8, love this book! At first you might think it is geared towards younger children with the use of fairy tales but in fact the level of the humor appeals to older kids too. It's our new favorite bedtime book!