Puppy Love: The Story of Esme and Sam - Hardcover

Gillian Shields was born and brought up in England, where she studied English and worked in a drama school for several years. She now looks after her family and teaches English and drama part-time, as well as writing for children. Her first book, Ben and Gran and the Whole, Wide, Wonderful World, was published by Macmillan in London. The Starlight Baby is Gillian's first book for Simon & Schuster.

Elizabeth Harbour studied illustration at the Royal College of Art. She now has a career as an artist, illustrator, and printmaker. Her debut children's book was A First Picture Book of Nursery Rhymes. Elizabeth lives in South London with her husband and two young children.

Kindergarten-Grade 1—Lady and the Tramp, anyone? Esme Lamour is a much-loved poodle who becomes lost in the park and is rescued by a rough-around-the-edges New York mutt named Samuel Bloom. They fall in love on the meandering trip back uptown. Briefly separated by Esme's owner's prejudices, the poodle braves the mean streets to reunite with Bloom. Her owner is won over, and the pair live happily ever after. Shields's stilted and overworked rhymes end with one that epitomizes the work: "And with her walk Esme, and Samuel Bloom,/Plus five little puppies, as round as the moon." Round as the moon? Harbour's gently washed illustrations evoke the New York of yesteryear. Neither story nor art is strong enough to overcome the worn material.—Lisa Egly Lehmuller, St. Patrick's Catholic School, Charlotte, NC
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