Once I Ate a Pie

MacLachlan, Patricia and Emily MacLachlan Charest. Once I Ate A Pie. New York: Joanna Cotler Books, 2006.

Thirteen dogs tell their tales in this beautifully arranged book of poems. My favorite is “Mr. Beefy.”

Mr. Beefy

I am not thin, but I am beautiful

When no one is looking, I steal tubs of butter off the table.

I take them to the basement to eat in private.

Once I ate a PIE.

The positions of the words on the page, along with a variety of fonts within each poem, give the reader a feel for the poetry expressed by each dog. These poems must be seen to be appreciated. Katy Schneider’s illustrations bring each poem to life, adding just the right animal to each poem. I laughed out loud while reading this book.

What others have to say…

“Presented in a variety of fonts and type sizes that reinforce the meaning of the words, the poems offer odes to the various pleasures of life…Dominated by multiple shades of brown and gray, the book’s palette is not wildly colorful, but the paintings capture the individuality of each animal, as well as the mischief and movement young dog loves find so irresistible.”

Nolan, Abby. 2006. "Once I Ate a Pie." Booklist 102, no. 17: 87. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed May 8, 2009).