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Publisher - Clarion Books
Ages 3-6
“Old folks and dogs comprise the cast of
this fresh and comical tale that show there’s more than one
way to beat the frigid weather... Pen-and-ink details adding humorous
punch.”
—ALA Booklist
Nominee—Young Hoosier Book
Award Nominee—Kentucky Bluegrass Award Top 40 New England Children’s
Books—Yankee Magazine
Other books inspired by true stories...
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| The Story: |
Ezra and his five dogs live high on a hilltop. Just down the hill
lives old Betty, who visits daily with cookies and advice on how
to stay warm on the cold winter nights. But Ezra doesn't want Betty's
advice-or her blankets which she offers him after the first snowy
night. "It wasn't so bad," says Ezra. "It was only a three-dog
night." "Stubborn as a mule," frets Betty. "He'll turn into a block
of ice." After the coldest night of all, Betty rushes up to Ezra's
house to check on him. What she discovers there makes a funny and
satisfying climax to this folksy story about friendship and keeping
warm.
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| Where did you get the idea?: |
When I was in my studio
working on the illustrations for another book, I heard Will Curtis,
on NPR's The Nature of Things, tell a story about an elderly
Vermonter who didn't like to stoke his wood stove at night - even
when the temperatures fell below zero. Why should he stoke his
wood stove? After all, he had a self-regulating canine thermostat-five
dogs of different sizes, all who knew just when it was cold enough
to climb into bed with their master. I wanted to stop what I was
working on and draw that old man, fast asleep on a cold winter
night, snoring happily, under the warm weight of his five dogs.
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| Tidbits: |
Will Curtis:
Five years after hearing the radio story, I was telling my cousin, nature writer,
Gale Lawrence, that I was thinking of writing a picture book inspired by Will
Curtis's story. Our conversation was interrupted by a phone call from . . .
can you believe it? Will Curtis! He was calling to ask permission to use one
of her articles on his radio program.
Did the old Vermonter (Ezra) actually exist?
No one is sure. Will Curtis first read the story in Sanctuary, an Audobon Society
magazine. It's possible their story was a folk tale, told and retold.
"Five-dog night": The expression, 'three-dog night', has
been around for a while—shared by many cultures which have
dogs and cold nights.
Old Betty: Will Curtis's story did not have an elderly well-meaning
neighbor. I added old Betty to give the story more emotion and plot.
So in addition to a story about dogs and warmth, it became a story
about friendship.
The dedication: When I was working on this book, I realized
I had shared my life with five dogs. So, of course, I dedicated the
book to them! The black and white dog was my old dog, Ophelia, who
is also in Not Until Christmas, Walter!
The illustrations: The black line is a very black pencil.
The color is water color.
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