From the author and illustrator of Our New Kittens, an empowering story for young children about training a new puppy

It’s a big day for Patch the puppy as her girl decides to take her for her first walk outside of the yard. Patch needs to learn her manners, but the playful pup is sometimes too excited to listen! With patience and perseverance, Patch’s girl guides her new canine companion through basic commands including “sit,” “stay,” and “down,” making sure to dole out plenty of treats and belly rubs for a job well done along the way.

This delightful story from author, performer, and children’s librarian Theo Heras is a great introduction for young children about caring for and training a puppy, complemented by Alice Carter’s warm, inviting illustrations and a sturdy format complete with padded cover.

Theo Heras is a performer, speaker, book reviewer, and a children's librarian. Passionate about literature and programming for babies and toddlers, Theo is the author of the juvenile titles Hat On, Hat Off, Baby Cakes, and Where’s Bunny?, which was a Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice. She has also recorded two albums: What Will We Do with the Baby-O?, and Seashell, Sing a Song to Me. Theo lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Theo Heras' profile page

Alice Carter is an artist, illustrator, and storyteller with a passion for sharing her whimsical imagination. A graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design who now works with clients from all over the world, Alice is inspired by people watching, music, and every animal she comes across. Her picture books include Angus All Aglow, the Pierre & Paul stories, Our New Kittens, My Puppy Patch, and Teaching Mrs. Muddle. Alice lives in Ottawa, Ontario.

Alice Carter's profile page

• Short-listed, IODE Jean Throop Book Award

Praise for My Puppy Patch

2020 IODE Jean Throop Book Award shortlist

2021 Open Book “Read Local – Ottawa” Selection

"The genuine love expressed between owner and pet fortifies the responsibilities Patch's owner undertakes."—Kirkus Reviews

"A simply delightful story...complemented by Alice Carter's warm, inviting illustrations...My Puppy Patch is an exceptional and unreservedly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections..."—Midwest Book Review

"Illustrations are vibrantly joyous, done with a fun palette in watercolours, pencils, and digital art. Children will pour over the bright, fun drawings on every page, and the occasional words written in a childish hand with coloured pencil are delightfully whimsical."—Resource Links

"My Puppy Patch is a wonderful story that introduces, or reinforces, how to care for and train a new puppy....[A] great choice for a family looking to bring a new dog into the home or for any child who loves pets. Just enough tension, adorable pictures, and a sweet and simple story make it perfect for multiple read-throughs. Highly Recommended."—CM Magazine

"Young children who have, or are planning to get, a dog will like My Puppy Patch....This simple story about children and raising canine family members touches on topics such as socialization, training and caring for a puppy. Good illustrations complement the text."—Toronto.com

"For families getting a new dog, Theo Heras gives some excellent advice about canine care, and this little girl is doing it all right, understanding that Patch has basic needs for health and well-being but also for learning and emotional care....Ottawa artist Alice Carter preserves the lightness of Theo Heras's message about the interrelationship between child and puppy by keeping her illustrations bright and colourful and her characters effusive in their expressions."—CanLit for LittleCanadians

"I liked that the story showed good ways to look after a pet, and the bond that develops between the child and the dog. I loved how the endpapers show the two along with the girl’s drawings and lists pertaining to Patch."—Canadian Bookworm