No Room for Napoleon

By Adria Meserve

Book Overview

Napoleon is a small dog with big ideas. When he spots an island through his telescope, Napoleon decides it will make the perfect home. He is welcomed by Crab, Bunny, and Bear, who are excited to have a new neighbor. They even insist on helping Napoleon build his dream house a home that's tall and wide, with great ocean views. But Napoleon's demands push the limits of friendship as well as of the resources of the island. Is there anything Napoleon can do to make it up to them? Playful illustrations and text about a bossy dog and his patient pals, along with a subtle environmental message, are sure to delight young readers and their parents.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374355363
• ISBN13: 9780374355364
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.8" x 0.3" x 9.5"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED IN THIS ENGAGING STORY

Once upon a time there was a small brown dog. Really, an unexceptional canine save for his name - Napoleon. He is appropriately named because he has notions of grandeur. One day when he is out in his boat he sees an island,. It appears to be a beautiful spot and never able to think small Napoleon decides he has found his very own, personal, just-the-way-I-want-it paradise island. When he reaches shore he receives a warm greeting from Crab, Bunny and Bear. They show him all around the island, which is everything Napoleon hoped it would be and he decides to stay. His three new friend are delighted and offer to build him a home. Well, Napoleon wants to start construction immediately and hustles about the island to find just the right spot with the best view. Early the next morning he begins to build, and his friends offer to help. Little did they know that Napoleon would soon be issuing orders and as they worked harder and harder he worked less and less. Not only that but he uses so much of the island for his house that soon there's not much left of the woods, gardens or beach. There's hardly any space for Crab, Bunny and Bear to play. Young readers will enjoy discovering how the threesome deal with Napoleon and the lessons that he learns. - Gail Cooke

Good read-aloud for early elementary

When Napolean spies an island from his little boat, he is overjoyed at the prospect of building his house in such a beautiful place. Crab, Bunny and Bear befriend Dog and invite him to live, play, and eat with them on their island. Soon, however, Dog becomes greedy, wanting to build the biggest house in the world and uses up all of the resources on the island to build his home. Dog sees the error of his ways when his friends leave him alone with his island home. This book is a perfect read-aloud to illustrate for young listeners the value of maintaining friendships and avoiding selfish behavior.