Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Terrier adapts to new Paris home in charming dog tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Hudson, an English-speaking Norwich Terrier, is excited to learn that his "mom," a human writer, is taking him to live in Paris for a year. But when he gets there, he finds it's hard to make friends when he doesn't know the language. His mom enrolls him in a languages course -- taught by a French poodle -- and he's finally able to converse at the dog park and and places around town, such as the Algerian market and the Café des Amis, and he doesn't feel so lonely and out of place anymore.
Is It Any Good?
This fun tale of an English-speaking dog adapting to life in Paris works on several levels. The colorful gouache illustrations of dogs, people, and city scenes have loads of personality and emotion and will engage kids even if they know nothing about dogs or Paris. For fans of France and the French language, there's even more to enjoy and learn.
Realism flies out the window when Hudson talks (as do the other dogs), reads, and takes a language course. But PARIS-CHIEN: ADVENTURES OF AN EXPAT DOG strikes a universal chord as it shows how it feels to be the new or different kid in any situation. So in addition to being a cheerful story of a cute pup solving his problem, it's relatable and can build empathy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about living in a foreign country. How would you feel if you were suddenly living in a place where you didn't speak the language?
What's fun about stories where animals act like humans? What are your favorite books with dog characters?
Do you have any relatives, neighbors, or teachers who are from another country? Do you think they felt like Hudson when they came to your country? Are there any shopkeepers in your neighborhood who speak other languages?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Jackie Clark Mancuso
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Animals
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : La Librairie Parisienne
- Publication date : June 5, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Apple Books
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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