I'd Like to Be the Window for a Wise Old Dog

A comforting and timely new picture book that feels like an instant classic, written and illustrated by Philip Stead, author of the Caldecott Medal-winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee and the New York Times bestselling The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine.

The limitless possibilities of the world outside our windows—and the warmth and comfort of home—are explored in this thoughtful meditation on the imagination, as seen from the point of view of a wise old dog.

Any child who has ever felt uncertainty about the world outside will be soothed and enchanted by the open-ended, seemingly-unanswerable, and utterly whimsical questions this book poses: "Will I ever be the dawdle of a penguin? Will I ever be the waddle of a snail? Will I ever be the tumble of a honeybee? Will I ever be the bumble of a whale?"

Children will love poring over the vivid, whimsical artwork, asking their own imaginative questions, and thinking about their own view of the world outside their window. It's a perfect story for families to share together from the warmth and comfort of home.★ "This is a text that begs to be read aloud, one-on-one or to a group. Prepare for serious toe-tapping."—Booklist, starred review

"A whimsical picture book."—The Wall Street Journal

"Philip Stead’s book pairs a poetic text with softly colored illustrations of thoughtful animals, showcasing the sensitivity of both his writing and his art."—The Virginian-Pilot

"Whimsical."—Publishers Weekly

Included in "The Most Astonishingly Unconventional Children's Books of 2022"—School Library Journal


PHILIP STEAD is the author of the Caldecott Medal-winning book A Sick Day for Amos McGee. With his wife, illustrator Erin Stead, he also created the New York Times bestseller The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine; Bear Has a Story to Tell; Lenny & Lucy; and Music for Mr. Moon. Philip has also written and illustrated his own books, including Hello, My Name Is Ruby; Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat; and A Home for Bird. Visit Philip online at philipstead.com.