Reading a book without words takes some getting used to. It is an appropriate book for younger children. Preschool and kindergarten students could 'read' this book without assistance. However, it would be a good book to be read to a class, discussing what's happening with Daisy in each scene.
Having won the 2012 Caldecott Medal, I chose this book with expectations of incredible illustrations. At first glance, I was somewhat disappointed. The colors are somewhat muted, with lots of grays, black and yellows, with the occasional burst of red in the form of Daisy's ball. The sketches are very free form and hazy looking. However, after reading through the book again, I began to notice that Daisy's emotions are very visible in the sketches. Without words, the pictures must tell the story. That is the case for Daisy. You can sense her excitement, disappointment and curiosity much like a child would with their own pet. Her facial expressions tell you the story. I can remember our puppy acting the same way over a new toy or a lost one. It's easy for students to relate to this if they've ever had a pet or watched an animal with their favorite toy.
This book would be an excellent way to discuss feelings with young children. Students could see Daisy's happiness, her sadness, and how she deals with disappointments. The book also deals with sharing and encountering new friends. Students could deal with questions such as HOW does Daisy feel after meeting the new dog? WHY is she so sad? WHAT happens to make her sad? WHAT happens to make her happy?
I would recommend this book to young children, especially those interested in dogs. It would be useful in a unit on feelings and dealing with disappointment and meeting new friends. It's an easy book to read to a class and can allow students to make predictions about what will happen to Daisy and her ball. Overall, it's a good book with excellent facial expression drawings and a lesson to be learned.
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