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I Always Wanted One
by Olivier Tallec
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date Aug 18 2020 | Archive Date Oct 28 2020
Quarto Publishing Group – words & pictures | words & pictures
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Description
He had always wanted one ever since he was little… He might not be the one he would have picked himself. He has some strange habits, eats weird food and disappears for hours of the day. But he is perfect really, in his own way.
This beautifully illustrated tale tells the story of a dog and his boy, charting their friendhsip in charming rhyming couplets as they navigate the world together.
Written and illustrated by the wonderfully talented Olivier Tallec, this is book would make the perfect story for a child with a furry best friend.
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9780711255296 |
PRICE | $18.95 (USD) |
PAGES | 32 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
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This was a very cute story about the relationship between a boy and his first dog over time. The art style for the story was cute and charming. The relationship between the boy and his dog was very sweet. I think this would make a great book to read to kids, especially ones who have just gotten a dog!
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Do you ever have those moments where there's just something massively adorable that the sheer idea of it makes anything involving said thing tug at your heartstrings? Yeah, <em>I Always Wanted One</em> by Oliver Tallec is that for me. Everything about this concept of our dogs perceiving us in a similar manner to that which we perceive them gets to my emotions. I just <em>love</em> how it pops up every once in awhile in media I read or watch. I'm especially fond of how it was portrayed here.
<b>A dog who wants a boy.</b>
The story is told from the perspective of a young dog who has always wanted a boy of his own. And one Christmas morning, he finally gets one! Translated from its original French, <em>I Always Wanted One</em> follows these two characters as they get to know one another and build a bond and attachment that lasts for a lifetime. You see how excited this young pup is to finally have a companion of his own and the ways in which they grow and develop together.
I adored seeing this world from the dog's perspective. It was especially fun to see how certain aspects of a dog's life play a role in the way he sees the behaviors of his boy. My favorite, hands down, had to be the idea of going to school. Whereas this is a perfectly normal behavior for us, the dog sees this as his boy misbehaving and <em>running away</em>! Though his boy always comes home, he can't help spending his whole day looking for him.
<b>The dog's voice and emotion.</b>
I do have to admit that a part of me feels as though the dog wasn't as attached to his boy as a typical dog would have been. There was definitely somewhat of a disconnect in the author's ability to show how much this dog loved his boy. In that sense, this book is lacking. I would have much preferred if the dog's voice portrayed a stronger attachment that falls more in-line with how dogs behave.
The dog just lost a lot of his excitement and happiness after a while, which really doesn't match my picture for a dog who loves his owner. And perhaps this has to do with the fact that I have a dog-obsessed puppy, but it did completely throw me that the dog in this book commented on a game of fetch getting boring after a while.
<b>The Artwork.</b>
The artwork for this story was absolutely gorgeous. I was a little thrown when we see the boy hiding underneath the dresser upon seeing his dog's excitement, but I suppose the author was trying to give the boy more dog-related behaviors. Though this made the story a bit less realistic for me, it was overall an extremely adorable rendition. The dog is utterly cute and every page is filled with beautiful illustrations that you can't help adoring. It's bright and colorful, which leaves a lot of room for child engagement.
Overall, I'm actually a pretty big fan of this book. It's adorable, it's funny, it's silly, and it has a special place in my heart.
<em>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</em>
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This book is just adorable. It tells the story of one dog who always wanted a human and though the human isn't perfect, the relationship just may be. The illustrations and words are just lovely.
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I got this on Netgalley in exchange of an honest review!
This is a really fun and slightly nonsensical picture book about the relationship between a dog and a human boy. When you first start the book you go in immediately thinking the story will be told from the perspective of the boy, but instead, it gives us clues that it is actually from the perspective of the dog! I believe this would be a fun little surprise for young readers, and it would be perfect to talk about in e.g. English class!
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Very cute book from a dog’s point of view about getting a boy. I think kids will enjoy the fun twist of perspective. The dog is concerned about walking the boy, playing with the boy, and teaching the boy how to eat dry food. Such a cute book about the special relationship between a dog and his boy.
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Olivier Tallec delivers a beautiful story about a dog (who looks a lot like my own canine bff) and the boy he always wanted. I loved this and will be adding this to my personal collection!
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I loved this fun picture book! It's done through the point of view of the dog and I think kids will get a kick out of the dog's thoughts and that they are what they may think about a dog. Great choice for a story time read!
I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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This book was hilarious and the pictures were adorable. I read this book to a six-year-old and a four-year-old and they both loved it. I enjoyed it as well. It's rare to find a book that the kids love that is enjoyable for the grown-ups as well, but this book definitely fit the bill.
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I always wanted one is a tale of a dog and his boy. I absolutely love the switched point of view. It was very clever and I would love to see more stories of their adventures.
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A cute story about a boy and his dog...except from the dog's point of view! What a fun little twist. I think kids would love this book and find it entertaining. Would be good for a child who has just gotten a dog. The illustrations are nice to look at too.
A copy of this book was made available to me through netgalley. These opinions are my honest review.
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We loved this! I love the twist on it. The dog wanting a boy, not a boy wanting a dog. Super cute. My little ones love it too. The illustrations are great as well.
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read and review.
This is an adorable book about a boy and his dog - with a twist. The story is told by the dog. It is sure to make readers laugh! I can't wait to add this to mu classroom library!
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This was a really cute story. The art was very fun (I like the big heads compared to the small bodies) and I loved the twist on the classic "I want a dog" story.
This is the story of a dog who has always wanted a human. They learn that it's a lot of hard work to have a human, but it's definitely worth it.
I think this would be a fun story to read for storytime with an older group (ages 5-8) and could also be great for families considering adopting a dog.
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I need my mom right now because this storybook is so freaking cute!!!
I am going all soft and fluffy because of all this cute storytelling and all that fluffy illustrations. It feels like I am watching an animation.
Damn. This one is totally relatable for dog lovers like me. My whole family is obsessed over dogs. And yasss, I am going to make all of them to read this one.
We all behaved the same when our German Shepherd puppies were brought home for the first time like the kid in the story does.
And yes, how our canine babies grow up and take over our lives is so damn relatable!
And yes, we love to show off our canine family members and yes, we are proud to have them with us.
I just love this book!!!
I am obsessed.
A big hug to the artist. This is just phenomenal!
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC.
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It is yet another unique story. I like the part where I got confused who the narrator is and finding out who it is made me laugh. I like the story, how cute and simple it was. Illustrations are cute too. It's something I will want to read to kids.
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A very sweet tale of a boy and a dog that subverts convention and helps to get kids to use some critical thinking skills and inquiry. A really great book for a younger child to read at bedtime or for a younger classroom to talk about narrators and perspective! The illustration is also lovely, and definitely reminiscent of Peanuts. Loved it!
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I received this ebook in exchange for an honest and fair review. What a cute book. A young child could have a lot of fun with this book. There is a plot twist in which we realize that the narrator is not who we expected it to be. Would be a cute book for a classroom library.
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This was adorable! The illustrations were cute and simple, and the storyline sealed the deal. What a cute story about a very likely but still special friendship.
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I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from Olivier Tallec and Quatro Publishing Group – words & pictures through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was such a fun book! I love that the dog is describing the boy that adopted him as if he is the owner. I think kids will get a kick out of this different POV.
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This story begins:
I always wanted one.
So, that morning, when I saw him there,
I could not believe my eyes
A Christmas tree, a boy sitting surrounded by wrapped presents adorned with bows, and staring, wide-eyed at… a puppy.
The process of getting to know each other, after all they are new “friends,” the adjustments made, the lessons that need to be taught and learned, the bond between them slowly building.
This is a really cute story, with wonderful illustrations that will appeal to children and parents, with a really sweet and unexpected perspective that will appeal to parent and child, as well.
Pub Date: 18 Aug 2020
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Quarto Publishing Group – words & pictures / words & pictures
#IAlwaysWantedOne #NetGalley
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Who can resist a dog book?
And this is a dog book with a twist...
This is a dog!s life from the point of view of the dog.... and what his everyday life is like with his human.
I can!t wait to read this to kids, as I can imagine there will be lots of laughs and shouting out, when they realise what’s going on.
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I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A dog receives a child and he's always wanted one, but he's kind of strange.
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This book is PERFECT for the classroom. I can see this being used in so many lessons.
The perspective and voice are strong, and it’s sweet.
I have a pup so despite my best efforts I’ve now become A Dog Person and now I can’t tell how biased I am about this type of theme. Sigh.
This one is a keeper, and one I can also see working really well with some very particular kids. Some kids (and adults!!) become different people when talking about their pets. Being a SPED educator in particular I’ve definitely had many students where the one way they light up is when talking about animals.. this could be just the in with that kid.
Thanks so much to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Those moments when you are surprised when you start reading a book that according to your mind you know who the narrator is and it turns out to be another and that becomes a plus for the book !; Well, this is the book as the text is united with the illustrations and they make the story so enriching and that without a doubt it is one of the most pleasant, adorable stories, and all the beautiful things in the world.
A dog that wants a child
For those who love their pets and those who believe in friendship this is your book, it reads super fast and stays in your heart and mind for a long time.
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As a dog lover I can say this book is so cute! I really enjoyed the relationship between the child and his dog. Also it was a funny twist by having it be through the dog’s perspective. I found myself loving the end. Also the illustrations in this book is amazing totally recommend it for all dog lovers.
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Such a cute story told from the pups perspective! It was silly to read & I’m sure all Kids would love this one. The pictures were really lovely & it wasn’t a long book either
which means it be great for bedtime, for beginner readers, or for a class mystery readers!
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A Dog and His Boy
This is a cute, nicely illustrated story of a dog and his boy. Yes, I have that in the correct order! While it isn't clear at first—which makes it more fun—this story is told from the dog's perspective. On the first page, we simply see a Christmas scene with a boy and a dog, and the text does not give any clues that it's the dog talking. We then see the dog as he tries to make sense of his new world with his new friend. He doesn't understand why the boy doesn't like to eat dry food and why he disappears every day. The book is probably meant for early readers, as this is not a full picture book. Yes, there are illustrations on every page, but they are not full-page ones. If your child has a dog, she or he will probably appreciate seeing the world from their dog's perspective.
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Oh my goodness, this was SOOOO CUTE!!! The artwork was beautiful and inclusive of all different types of humans and dogs, the color palette was a perfect fit and the story being told, with a twist on who was telling it, so cute! I think kids will get a kick out of the twist. I know I really enjoyed the "cat's house", that had me laughing.
Absolutely adorable book I will be recommending at the store. Kids will enjoy it and so will the adults reading it to them. 5, I loved this concept and it didn't disappoint, stars!
My thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – words & pictures for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
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Who doesn't want one? One to wait for you to come home and sit on the couch.
The classic boy and his dog with a special twist. I am not giving it up but it endearing way how the relationship of a dog and his human. I must admit, I had a few chuckles. It was to one read with your favorite kiddo that will leave you both in stitches and wanting to reading it one more time. Has a grandmother of three, that is something I can do!
A special thank you to Quarto Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review
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This book is a real charmer and sure to be classic. The title as you probably figured out is a twist of the "I want a dog" trope. It's the dog who is the narrator and guess what? He always wanted a new friend. The problem is getting his new bud to conform more to his standards like eating on the floor and not running away. I am always looking for a good read-aloud and this is definitely one.
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An adorable book about a boy and his dog. Or maybe a dog and his boy? It is the perfect story to read to your little one with pets. Kids will enjoy the twist told from the dog's point of view. I will definitely include this in future storytimes.
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It's a heartwarming story about a dog and its owner, the boy. What makes it more interesting, the story is narrated from the first point of view of the dog.
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What a sweet book! I read it with my class, and we made predictions based on the cover and the title. Most thought that it would be about a boy who wanted a dog, which led to a great discussion on perspective. They loved the funny story and cute illustrations. Olivier Tallec's illustrations added hugely to the overall enjoyment and understanding of the story. I will be using this book in my classroom to encourage writing and looking at how we can take typical situations (like owning a dog), change the point of view, and create whole new stories. I highly recommend reading I Always Wanted One with any age group; my class is 10-12 years old and they loved it!