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This book, Grabby Pup, is one of the first offerings from Plumfield Press. It is a reprint of a public domain book, lovingly reproduced with upgraded color pictures and glossy white paper. It is one of a long line of picture books featuring baby animals, in this case a small black puppy, clearly some kind of Cocker Spaniel judging by its floppy ears. Grabby Pup can be classified as a picture book rather than an early reader, though it could be used to teach reading. However, I see it more as a nice book to read to a little one curled up in one’s lap.
The puppy in our story is named Grabby because of the puppy’s habit to grab everything he sees, principally things belonging to other animals. In this way, he becomes estranged from animals around the farm, such as other puppies, a kitten, and a squirrel. Mother dog then steps in and teaches Grabby overnight a sharp lesson. Next morning, he didn’t grab from the other animals anymore, so they became his friends and played with him. I don’t read picture books to children to teach them lessons – I stick to Bible story books for that - but this book does contain a wonderful lesson about the consequences of selfishness. The last page ends with a question – now that Grabby Pup is no longer grabby, what would you name him? I can foresee lots of fun when a parent finishes reading this book to a child! And every time the child asks for this book again, and they will, the parent could require a different name be chosen to exercise the child’s imagination. The illustrations are whimsical and cute and add to the delight of the book.