A family with three children lives in the woods, possibly near a village, faces a visit from a ‘monster’ – a black dog.
Pinfold introduces the characters one by one when seeing the black dog outside their house. The author portrays each member of the Hope family on a page not only by text but also by drawing in a triptych on the top, their imagination of the creature’s size and the course of their action. The fright of the family is shown humorously; they even wail at Maurice (one of the children) to hide under the covers, which might bring thoughts to “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”. The only person who reacts differently is Small Hope, who, despite the warning from her family that the dog will: “eat you up”, “munch your head”, and “crunch your bones”, decides to meet and greet the creature. The dog follows the little girl around the village while she sings, which might remind readers of fairy tale elements to the story. But is the dog so gigantic and fearsome?
Pinfold draws stunning pictures with many details that show the house’s interior and give a feeling of antiquity. Only the illustration can amuse the reader, but when added to this beautifully written story, it adds to the message that how you see the world is a matter of thinking rather than a reality.
The Stats:
- Title: Black Dog
- Author and Illustrator: Levi Pinfold
- ISBN: 978-1-84877-052-2
- Publication Date: 2012
- Page Count: 32
- Publisher: Templar Publishing
- Recommended age: 5-8
- Categories/Topic: Fear, Family, Animals
Further Information:
If you loved Black Dog, check out more information about its author and illustrator:
Free resources:
- tes: Free teaching resource on Black Dog
- Carnegie Greenway notes to support evaluating artistic quality
- The Guardian: Levi Pinfold’s Black Dog – in pictures
- A Mid-Wales Music Trust Production inspired by the award-winning children’s book Black Dog
Where to Find it:
