One-Dog Sleigh

Children intrigued by the idea of a ride in a “one-horse open sleigh” will enjoy this humorous story of a girl and her dog experi­encing an old-fashioned mode of winter trans­portation. Casanova and Hoyt team up again for this sequel to their One-Dog Canoe (2003), with the same little girl narrator and her perky dog again trying to enjoy an outdoor adventure together. Following the same cumulative structure as the first story, a cast of animal characters appears sequen­tially in the snowy forest, and one by one they crowd into the overloaded sleigh. They encounter a blizzard, the crowded sleigh hits a bump, and “SWOOSH-A-BANG THUMP!”: All the critters fly through the air into a snow bank, but they recover and play under the twinkling stars before waving “goodbye / on a crisp winter night.” This one has it all: rhyme, rhythm, repetition, humor and a satis­fying ending, as girl and dog head back to the warm, brightly lit barn. Charming water­color-and-ink illus­tra­tions provide a variety of perspec­tives and capti­vating person­al­ities for the forest-animal friends. Here’s hoping for more trans­portation-themed adven­tures from this daring (and endearing) duo.
—Kirkus Reviews

This tale has plenty of repetition, action verbs, and onomatopoeia and is well suited for reading aloud. Emerging readers will also appre­ciate occasional rhymes, clear text in short sentences, and appealing illus­tra­tions full of picture clues.
—School Library Journal

It’s supposed to be a one-dog sleigh. Emphasis on one. But when a girl and her small pooch set off in a plush red sleigh, drawn by a single pony, it’s not long before other creatures want in on the ride. First there’s a squirrel who hops aboard with a “LEAP” and a “SPIN,” making it a “one-squirrel, one-dog sleigh.” But then an owl joins, followed by a massive lynx, and then a humongous deer, who lands with a “CLATTER of hoofed feet.” By this point, it’s tight quarters. When a blizzard halts movement, the animals need to debark and push. Once all is right again, the sleigh is off and running — until the crew hits a bump, and “SWOOSH-A-BANG THUMP,” everyone goes flying. Full of great sound effects, the companion to One-Dog Canoe (2003) offers up a rollicking adventure of the winter variety this time. Hoyt’s whimsical illus­tra­tions capture the hilarity of the situation, partic­u­larly in facial expres­sions, as girl and dog and owl and — you get the picture — hang on for dear life. Share at winter-themed story hours.
—Ann Kelley, Booklist