Hot Dog
This 2023 Caldecott winning book begins with summer in the city, a dog and its person head out to take care of a few errands. After a while, however, the hustle and bustle of the city along with the rising temperature cause the dog to feel overheated and overwhelmed. Perceptive and kind, the owner finds a way to escape an environment that is too loud, too close, and too hot. They whisk away by taxi, train, and ferry to find peace, recharge, and cool down by the sea. As the little dog frolics in the sand and sea and cools down, this book is sure to warm readers’ hearts.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
Look at the cover and talk about the significance of the title Hot Dog. If children don’t mention it, the reader can share that dachshunds, because of their long shape, are often called “hot dogs” or a “wiener dogs.” This book has few words with much of the story told in pictures. The reader will want to bring the children’s attention to the dog and owner’s expressions as they make their way across the hot city streets, and finally find relief at the beach.
This is a great story for letting the children share in the narration. If needed, help steer their attention not just to the happenings in the pictures but also to the feelings depicted. Read expressively, altering tones and pace—louder for bold print words, slower as everyone cools down.