The Kettles are a cute little family of dogs who go clothes shopping for themselves once a year. They like their clothes very plain and simple – no need for lots of fancy floofs for them, thank you very much. But one day, when they made their pilgrimage, they discovered something unsettling. The store they usually went to was different. It had a shiny glass door, instead of the plain wooden one it always had before.
The owner, Pip by name, rushed forward and took all their measurements, then hustled them off to the dressing rooms. He outfitted them all in paisley, head to toe, proclaiming it perky and spry – but the Kettles felt it was too perky and spry for their taste.
So Pip tried again, this time coming up with outfits in stripes, which are forceful and strong. But again, too forceful and too strong for the Kettles. Back to the drawing board.
Checks are cheery and snappy! But no, the Kettles didn’t like cheery and snappy. Well, how about dots, which are playful and fun? What, we don’t like playful or fun, either?
Baby Kettle was the only one who enjoyed the colorful clothes. Mama Kettle finally said, “All we want are clothes that are plain and simple.”
Pip rejoiced – now he understood! He brought them the plainest clothes he had, and they were all happy – except for Baby, who started to cry.
At last, someone Pip can dress! He brought her out an outfit with stripes and checks and dots and stripes, and she was completely happy, every bit of her. It just goes to show, you may be born into a family that’s similar to you in many ways, but you will always have that little spark of something that makes you unique.
(This book was published in 2002 by Candlewick Press and was illustrated by Jill McElmurry.)
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