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“Sometimes the best adventures are the ones you never expect.”

I think this book could be used in the classroom to teach about creativity and realizing the little moments in life and how everything is a part of your own personal journey

this story talks about a hot dog who talks about his journey of exciting encounters. It talks about the themes of friendship and the joys of having adventures. The hot dog meets many characters along his journey and teaches the idea of stepping outside your comfort zone.

Great book for demonstrating what it means to be a good friend and would be great for younger grades.

This book had lots of great illustrations that were very vibrant. It does a great job at demonstrating the theme of friendship which is great for younger grades.
Published 2022
Caldecott winner

“But the beach—ah, the beach—is a place to breathe deep, dig holes, chase seagulls, and finally... just be.“

Hot Dog by Doug Salati follows a city dog escaping the chaos for a peaceful beach getaway. The story‘s vibrant illustrations capture the shift from the hectic city to the soothing shore. This heartwarming tale highlights the healing power of nature and the need to take breaks to recharge and find tranquility.

Hot Dog by Doug Salati, the 2023 Caldecott Medal winner, tells the story of a city dog finding peace at the beach. The illustrations contrast the bustling city with the tranquil shore, using soft colors and textures to capture the mood. The book‘s message emphasizes the importance of taking breaks and reconnecting with nature to relieve stress and find calm.

Published in 2023, the book follows a dog that roams around the busy city waiting for the chance to run. Once he finally is at the beach, the dog can finally be a dog. The words are short but descriptive to make it feel like the reader is in the city. The pictures are busy to display the city environment. My favorite quote is when the dog says they will have sweet, ocean dreams to show his appreciation for the different places he travels to.

I thought this was such a cute summer story about a dog and its owner with what it looks like living in New York City

The dog was simply too hot and the owner tried many different ways of transportation to get the dog away. They ended up at the beach. The dog and the owner had a great day together.

“a welcome whiff of someplace new”

“a welcome whiff of someplace new”

I would recommend this story to any student who is interested in dogs. Many of my students would love this book! It also uses many alliterations throughout the text.

Caldecott Medal Winner
Published 2022
This is a fun, feel-good story about a dog in the city who is hot, tired, and overstimulated by everything going on around him. He goes on an adventure to the beach and plays in the sand to cool off. When he returns to the city he is joyful and comfortable again. The theme of this story is taking a break to calm down when you are overwhelmed or need some fresh air.

I‘m going to be a star!” This line reflects the hot dog's aspiration and excitement about its dream, embodying the theme of pursuing one's goals and embarking on a new adventure.

I would use this book to create discussions in the classroom about dreams and identity.

Hot Dog by Doug Salati was published in 2023 and won the Caldecott Award. This book goes through the story of a dog who wants to become a superhero. The book features vibrant illustrations and a playful narrative that captures the journey of the hot dog as it strives to find its place in the world.

“Moon rises, skyline shimmers“

This would be a really good book when learning about different places. (Cities versus the open beaches.) You could also do a beginning, middle, end writing activity on where the dog travels!

Hot Dog by Doug Salati - 2023 Caldecott Medal
This book is so fun with child like imagery! I really enjoyed how the book took you trough an adventure and two different atmospheres with the city and the beach. It really explained how both were lovely in there own special way!

“unfolding sky, a salty breeze, welcome whiff of someplace new“

This book includes a lot of rhyming words so this would work well in a classroom to have students identifying rhyming words and build vocabulary!

A cute and funny little story of a dachshund who wants to spend his summer out on the beach instead of the crowded city. The pictures throughout the book are also so beautifully illustrated, especially the last page with the dog and seals!

“Moon rises, skyline shimmers. Sun sinks down, swallowed by the sea.“

I would link this book to teaching by having the students analyze the pictures and explain in their own words how the dog might feel in those situations. This can promote social emotional learning while showing comprehension of the book.

In the 2023 Caldecott winning book, Hot Dog, it shows an interesting art style. The movement within the images are inspiring and promotes a calming art style. The book is about a dog going through life in different settings. For young readers, this can show how the simplicity in life can be exciting and different.

“ too close! too loud! too much!”

Could be used in a classroom to group vocabulary for words like “shimmer”. You could also challenge students to identify the rhyming words within the text.

Week 1: Caldecott Winner! This book was cute but didn‘t provide many educational views. May be good for beginning reader with the short sentences and often rhyming word. Not much of the story to the book, but it does dive into how the dog feels. Published May 24, 2022.

“Happy for home. Hungry for supper. What a day for a dog!”

I think this book is a great pick for young readers and can be read out loud by an adult or independently by a child. This is a good book for preschool and kindergarten because of the large images and simple language use.

Hot Dog by Doug Salati, 2023. Caldecott Award Winning Book. This book uses little language but large detailed images to express what is going on in the story. The story is given from the perspective of a dog and his journey through the day. He ventures through his city, the beach, then ends up back home with his owner.

Here, a pup can run!