Just about exactly the sort of strange madness I love most. ( )

I love dog books! Give me Harry the Dirty Dog any day! Well I liked this. Sweet text heavy story and sweet small illustrations. I think I’d have loved it when I was a kid. But reading it now as an adult (and I don’t remember reading it when I was young or having it read to me) I didn’t feel enchanted. The way the invisible dog became visible seemed odd to me and I really liked the illustrations and I’m sure I’d have liked the story when I was young. I liked the story but not that much. Some of my GR friends have really liked this. Off to read/reread some more reviews…

3-1/2 stars

Read on Open Library. ( )

Having explored the feline world in her iconic fairy-tale Millions of Cats, Newbery and Caldecott honoree Wanda Gág turns to the world of dogs in this charming story of "Nothing At All." Although just as much a puppy as his two brothers, Pointy and Curly, Nothing At All is invisible, which leads to problems when a little boy and girl arrive at the dogs' long-forgotten kennel (on a long-forgotten farm) and adopt Pointy and Curly, promising them all manner of wonderful things, but leave Nothing At All behind. Determined to rejoin his brothers and to have a home as well, Nothing At All follows the advice of a helpful jackdaw, who gives him a magical spell that will make him visible.

Originally published in 1941, and chosen as a Caldecott Honor Book in 1942 - the other titles chosen that year include An American ABC, Paddle-to-the-Sea and In My Mother's House - Gág's delightful book joins the classic orphaned/abandoned animal story to one involving a magical quest, producing something that feels very much like an original fairy-tale. Her illustrations, done in lithographs that have been colored in, are simply adorable, capturing all the charm of the little puppies. I particularly liked the fact that the dogs' individual kennels reflected their ear shape, which was in turn reflected in their names. Nothing At All is just a sweet little tale, one I would recommend to young dog lovers, to fairy-tale enthusiasts, and to fans of Wanda Gág's artwork. ( )

Cute story of a dog that was Nothing At All, and literally that. Illustrations are beautiful. Great story

Classic story of three orphan puppies forgotten in three kennels. One of the puppies was invisible. Problems begin when two children adopt the two visible puppies, but don't know about Nothing-At-All. The story has unmistakeable artwork and a great ending by Wanda Gag. ( )