Charley's First Night is one of those stories that are delicious precisely because they are not something new, but something familiar. Hest understands the way small boys think and what tugs at their heartstrings. She's got a pretty good feel for puppies, too, as does Oxenbury…who uses soft brush strokes and muted colors to give the book a warm, intimate, bedtime glow. There's really no question that these two companions will end up sleeping in the same bed. The sweetness is in how they find themselves there and how readers will recognize themselves in the story.
—Pamela Paul
Skittish, curious, loving, and vividly adorable, Henry’s new puppy, Charley, epitomizes the idea that while being a fledging pet owner isn’t always easy, it’s entirely worthwhile. Charley is a bit overwhelmed by his new surroundings, but Henry patiently shows him around the house, makes him a cozy bed, and responds to nighttime howling in a heartbeat. Meanwhile, Henry’s parents want to make sure the boundaries of behavior—for both pet and owner—are crystal clear from the get-go (“I would be in charge of feeding Charley, they said, and I couldn’t wait to feed Charley every day forever”). Henry sees the job through thanks to his unconditional love for his canine charge, a budding sense of duty, and a little bending of the rules. With a voice that’s sweetly comic and deeply sympathetic, Hest (Letters to Leo) beautifully imagines a serious, careful little boy who’s juggling the needs of multiple parties. Oxenbury (King Jack and the Dragon), wonderful as always in chronicling the small dramas of domestic life, will have readers falling in love with this duo from the very first page. Ages 3–6. (Oct.)
A book sure to be instantly beloved
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
With a design as soft and lovely as its message, it will be tough to keep children from heading out in the snow, looking for their own Charley.
—Booklist (starred review)
With a voice that’s sweetly comic and deeply sympathetic, Hest (Letters to Leo) beautifully imagines a serious, careful little boy who’s juggling the needs of multiple parties. Oxenbury (King Jack and the Dragon), wonderful as always in chronicling the small dramas of domestic life, will have readers falling in love with this duo from the very first page.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
This cozy bedtime story will be perfect to share with kids as they snuggle up to their own purring or tail-wagging charges.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
The pencil and watercolor illustrations are set within soft, muted frames. From Charley’s adorable face and poses to Henry’s mother’s reflection in a mirror as she looks at the pair asleep, the pictures have a timeless quality and beautifully complement the story
—School Library Journal
Words and pictures come together beautifully to tell the simple story of Henry negotiating his new pup’s place in the family. Quietly simple, elegant language permeates the book...Pastel watercolor illustrations are the perfect companion to Hest’s pastel language. Whether or not the reader has ever experienced that special bond with a pet, you’ll be (quietly) cheering for Henry and Charley.
—Library Media Connection
An unsentimental, yet adorable, recasting of an ever-reliable theme.
—Horn Book
Hest understands the way small boys think and what tugs at their heartstrings. She’s got a pretty good feel for puppies, too, as does Oxenbury who uses soft brush strokes and muted colors to give the book a warm, intimate, bedtime glow. There’s really no question that these two companions will end up sleeping in the same bed. The sweetness is in how they find themselves there and how readers will recognize themselves in the story.
—New York Times online
This gentle tale is the ideal gift for a new dog owner and every dog lover.
—Shelf Awareness
Both text and art reinforce Henry's sense of responsibility, protection and care of his new charge and lifemate. The book is an ideal way to explore these themes, whether or not you have a family pet.
—Twenty by Jenny
A gentle story with an immediate and authentic voice, it’s matched by Oxenbury’s satiny, soft-focus artwork, each illustration captured in a border, showing restraint and subtlety.
—Seven Impossible Things
K-Gr 2—This comforting, sweet story of a puppy's first night in his new home is simply told and as warm and cozy as a blanket. When Henry Korn finds Charley one snowy evening, the little boy just knows that the pup wants to go home with him. His parents capitulate to their son's desire to keep the dog, making sure he knows that the puppy is his responsibility. Although Charley wants to sleep in Henry's room (says Henry), Mr. Korn gently affirms that the animal will spend the night in the kitchen. Henry is tender and loving toward his new charge, and children who have looked after their family pets will see a bit of themselves in the protagonist. During the night the puppy cries, and his young master dutifully looks after him, stopping at his parents' bedroom only to find them sound asleep. Of course, Charley ends up in Henry's bed, but who could look at such a compatible pair and be angry? The pencil and watercolor illustrations are set within soft, muted frames. From Charley's adorable face and poses to Henry's mother's reflection in a mirror as she looks at the pair asleep, the pictures have a timeless quality and beautifully complement the story.—Alison Donnelly, Collinsville Memorial Public Library, IL
The tenderness a child feels for his new puppy seeps from the pages of a book sure to be instantly beloved. "I carried him in my old baby blanket, which was soft and midnight blue, and we were new together and I was very, very careful not to slip in the snow and I thought about his name." Charley Korn is the puppy; the young narrator is Henry Korn. Hest's stream-of-consciousness sentences are interspersed with short, declarative statements and bits of dialogue, creating a dreamy, lyrical cadence. Oxenbury's pencil-and-watercolor illustrations are infused with softness and warmth, depicting the loving bond between boy and dog. Even the design of the book, with text and pictures set within wide borders on each page, inspires a feeling of intimacy. Once home, Henry shows Charley around ("This is home, Charley") and recounts his parents' expectations, including the one where Charley will sleep in the kitchen--alone--forever. Henry dutifully arranges Charley's bed, but the nighttime crying begins. After the second rescue, Henry shows Charley his room, where Charley wants to be put on Henry's bed--or so Henry interprets. Thus the two spend the night, predictably the first of many, cuddled together. Be forewarned: Youngsters will find Charley as irresistible as Henry does and will no doubt beg for puppies of their own. (Picture book. 4-8)
