''Whistle for Willie'' is a 1964

children's A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger ...

picture book A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. With the narrative told primarily through text, they are distinct from comics, which do so primarily through sequential images. The images ...

by American author and illustrator

Ezra Jack Keats Ezra Jack Keats (né Jacob Ezra Katz; March 11, 1916 – May 6, 1983) was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. He won the 1963 Caldecott Medal for illustrating '' The Snowy Day'', which he also wrote. Keats wrote '' A Letter ...

Plot

The protagonist, Peter, wants to be able to call his dog Willie by whistling. Although the whistling hurts him after a while he doesn't give up and eventually succeeds.

Reception

''Whistle for Willie'' has been used to educate children. Ann Marie Sammataro of

Common Sense Media Common Sense Media (CSM) is an organization that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children.

said that it 'celebrates a child's ingenuity'. ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' stated that 'the Caldecott prize winner has captured in words and eye-stopping pictures a big day in a small boy's life...'

Film

In 1964,

Jan Harvey Jan Harvey (born 1 June 1947) is a British actress. She is known for her regular television roles in '' Howards' Way'' (1985–1990), '' Bugs'' (1997–1999), and ''Family Affairs'' (2003–2005). Career Harvey is best known as Jan Howard in th ...

narrated and played the characters in the cartoon film.

References

{{reflist 1964 children's books American picture books Books by Ezra Jack Keats Sequel books Viking Press books