A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes: How MORE Dogs Came to BeOne autumn day, a group of playful dachshunds discover a pile of leaves and branches strewn about after a storm. Like young children with newfound treasures, they eagerly dress up in the scattered vegetation and transform into other dog breeds! Through the power of love, magic, and friendship, these dachshunds find their dreams coming true, all while showing that kindness and heart remain the same—no matter their shape or size.
This whimsical tale offers young readers, educators, and dachshund lovers alike a playful story filled with imagination and lessons about:- Friendship and transformation: Shows children the magic of friendship and how, even as we change on the outside, our hearts remain the same.
- Imagination and creativity: Encourages kids to dream big and explore their playful sides through the fun world of dress-up.
- Diversity and self-expression: Highlights how differences should be celebrated, as the dachshunds embrace their new looks while staying true to themselves.
- For dachshund and dog lovers: Features an engaging origin story of other beloved dog breeds, perfect for animal enthusiasts.
- Educational value: Includes informational glossaries about dachshunds, the eight new dog breeds, and the types of vegetation, making it a fun learning experience for kids.
Can a group of dachshunds really become other dogs just by playing dress-up? With the power of love and a little magic, anything is possible!----
Reviews
“This is a Tall Tale that keeps on giving! … This whimsical by-the-sea story also offers three delightfully illustrated glossaries … plus annotated drawings of Pacific Northwest seaside vegetation which play a major role in ‘the costumes’ chosen by each creative Dachshund.” — Sharon Fay Koch, writer; retired Board Certified Hospice Chaplain and former L.A. Times staff writer
“Kizzie Jones and Scott Ward have done it again! … It’s what’s on the inside that matters and makes us who we are in this world … As a psychologist and a mom, I believe this is such an important message to share with our children. This is truly a creative masterpiece …” — Kate Lund, Licensed Psychologist, Best Selling Author, and Mom
“Come. Join this joyful dachshund pack as they turn a doggone day at the beach into an adventure to spread love one friend at a time. Dance with them through delightful verse and playful pictures because a dachshund by any other name is still so sweet.”
— Wendy Kendall, Columnist, Kids are Bookin’ It, My Edmonds News
“In her lyrical style, Kizzie … has woven whimsy and nature together to create a story of transformation, the magic of being one's true self.” —Peggy Sullivan, author of Tevye the Magical Theater Cat, The Moon and Star, and Midnight and Moonlight
“Having taught Kindergarten and lower grades for over thirty years, I find this book a wonderful teaching tool … Scott’s illustrations are great! Being a fan of storms, I especially love the girl and pups on the couch watching the raging tempest. I can hear the thunder!” — Leona Keith, Retired Early Childhood Educator
“…Your book put a smile on my three-year-old grandson’s face! ….” — Paula Sobel, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
“… no matter what you look like, no matter who you become, at the heart of this playful romp called life ‘is the love that resides in each creature’s heart.’ The illustrations wondrously match the message.” — Patrick Howell, S.J., Distinguished Professor in Residence at Seattle University
“Come. Join this joyful dachshund pack as they turn a doggone day at the beach into an adventure to spread love one friend at a time. Dance with them through delightful verse and playful pictures because a dachshund
by any other name is still so sweet.”
—Wendy Kendall, Columnist, Kids are Bookin’ It, My Edmonds News
“It is easy to see that author Kizzie Jones has a deep love for her dachshunds and nature, but it is also clear that she loves to teach through her books. With assistance from USDA Forest Service, Jones fills her story with accurate plant life as well as lots of terms for different dog colorings and patterns, all of which she includes in a glossary at the end of the book.
Dachshunds in Costumes is a creative story that gives a lighthearted explanation for how the different breeds of dogs came to be, and as Jones’ previous books, we see the gift of self-acceptance. Also present is a meter that has a lilting and soothing quality. The meter pairs well with the wonderful illustration work from Scott Ward that has a unique and uniform shading style that readers of all ages will admire. Kizzie Jones’ newest addition is perfect for the curious and inquisitive child who will surely spend hours curled up studying all that A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes: How MORE Dogs Came to Be has to offer.”
—Chanticleer Reviews 2019
“This is a Tall Tale that keeps on giving! ... This whimsical by-the-sea story also offers three delightfully illustrated glossaries ... plus annotated drawings of Pacific Northwest seaside vegetation which play a major role in ‘the costumes’ chosen by each creative Dachshund.”
—Sharon Fay Koch, writer; retired Board Certified Hospice Chaplain and former L.A. Times staff writer
“Like all good stories, A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes is layered to work on multiple levels. The skillful use of anapestic tetrameter provides the momentum that carries the adventures of these delightful Dachshunds to their unexpected and thought-provoking conclusion ... Kudos to Kizzie Jones for this refreshing approach, and a captivating addition to her lovely Tall Tales series.”
—Avril van der Merwe, author, How Cheetah Got His Tears, Once Upon a Rhinoceros, and
I Don't Want to Be a Hyena
