That’s Not My Puppy stands out as one of the most practical board books I’ve tested for babies under 12 months. The book uses a simple formula that works: bold, high-contrast illustrations paired with tactile textures on every page.
Each page introduces a different puppy with a patch you can touch, fuzzy ears, bumpy paws, smooth noses.
The repetitive text helps babies recognize language patterns while the textures keep tiny hands busy. You can read it in under five minutes, but most babies stay engaged for 10-15 minutes because they want to touch everything repeatedly.
What You Actually Get
The book follows one straightforward pattern. Each page shows a different puppy and says “that’s not my puppy” followed by a reason.
“Its ears are too fuzzy.” “Its nose is too bumpy.” “Its paws are too rough.”
The text repeats on every page. This matters because young children learn through repetition.
They need to hear the same words many times before their brains start recognizing patterns.
Every puppy feature mentioned in the text has a matching texture patch. When the book says “fuzzy ears,” your baby can touch the fuzzy patch.
When it says “smooth nose,” they can feel the smooth patch.
This creates a connection between words and physical sensations.
The illustrations use bright, vivid colors. Newborns see in black and white first, then gradually develop color vision over the first few months.
The bold color choices support this visual development stage.
A small white mouse appears on every page. You can turn finding the mouse into a game, which extends how long your baby pays attention to each page.
Breaking Down the Age Ranges
Birth to 6 Months
Your newborn can’t grab objects intentionally yet, but they can see the high-contrast illustrations. You hold the book during tummy time or while sitting together.
The bold images keep their attention better than pastel illustrations. You guide their hands to the texture patches.
They won’t understand what they’re touching, but the sensory input builds neural connections.
Reading at this age creates bonding time. Your voice, your closeness, and the shared activity matter more than whether your baby “understands” the book.
6 to 12 Months
This is when the book becomes genuinely interactive. Your baby can now reach for objects deliberately.
They want to touch everything.
The texture patches become fascinating to them. Some babies develop favorite textures and will turn back to those pages repeatedly.
They might spend two minutes just rubbing one fuzzy patch.
The repetitive text becomes recognizable. Your baby won’t say the words yet, but they start anticipating when you’ll turn the page.
Some babies start bouncing or making sounds when they recognize the pattern.
Finding the mouse becomes possible around 8-10 months when object permanence develops. Your baby understands that the mouse exists and can be found.
This encourages observation skills.
12 Months and Beyond
Toddlers can join in reading. They might try to say “puppy” or point when they hear familiar words.
Some will attempt to turn the pages themselves.
The textures stay interesting because toddlers still learn heavily through touch. They might start comparing textures: “This one is soft. This one is bumpy.”
Many toddlers enjoy “reading” the book to younger siblings or stuffed animals. This builds confidence with language and books in general.
The book continues working well through age 2-3, though some children move on to books with more complex stories by then.
The Durability Test
Board books need to survive rough treatment. Babies chew, throw, bend, and occasionally dunk books in water.
Thats Not My Puppy uses thick cardboard pages. They’re not indestructible, but they withstand normal baby handling well.
The corners can get dinged from drops, but the pages don’t tear easily.
The texture patches are embedded into the pages rather than glued on top. This construction prevents peeling.
After months of use, the patches might feel slightly worn but rarely fall off completely.
The binding holds up through repeated readings. Some parents report these books lasting through many children without falling apart.
You can wipe the pages clean with a damp cloth if they get dirty. The pages won’t warp from a little moisture, though you shouldn’t submerge the book in water.
What Makes This Thats Not My Puppy Review Different
Most that’s not my puppy review content focuses on age recommendations or basic descriptions. I want to address what actually happens when you use this book daily.
The Texture Factor
The tactile elements change how babies interact with books. A regular picture book might hold attention for 2-3 minutes.
The textures in this book extend engagement to 5-15 minutes depending on your baby’s mood.
Some babies become attached to specific textures. They’ll ask “the fuzzy one” or get excited when they see a particular page coming.
This creates positive associations with reading time.
The textures also provide sensory input that screen time cannot copy. Tablets and phones offer visual and auditory stimulation, but they lack the tactile component.
Your baby’s brain develops differently when many senses engage simultaneously.
The Language Building Blocks
The repetitive text serves a specific developmental purpose. Babies need to hear words dozens or hundreds of times before those words become familiar.
When you read “that’s not my puppy” on every page, your baby’s brain starts recognizing that phrase. Eventually they anticipate it.
Much later, they might try to say it.
This pattern recognition is foundational for reading skills that develop years later. Your baby isn’t learning to read at 8 months old, but they’re building the neural pathways that will support reading when they’re 4 or 5.
The simple vocabulary makes the book accessible. You’re not struggling through complex sentences or unusual words.
You can read it naturally without feeling awkward.
The Practical Parent Benefits
You can read this book when you’re exhausted. The simple text doesn’t need concentration or dramatic reading voices. You can deliver it calmly at bedtime or energetically during playtime.
The book is small and lightweight. It fits in a diaper bag easily.
You can bring it to waiting rooms, car rides, or coffee shops.
It provides screen-free entertainment for 10+ minutes in situations where you need your baby occupied.
Multiple children can enjoy it simultaneously. If you have a toddler and a baby, the toddler can point out textures while the baby touches them.
This makes it useful for different age siblings.
The Limitations You Should Know
This that’s not my puppy review would be incomplete without honest limitations.
The book teaches sensory awareness and builds positive associations with reading. It does not teach letters, numbers, animal facts, or other educational content explicitly.
If you want books that introduce the alphabet or counting, you’ll need different books alongside this one. This book focuses entirely on sensory development and language patterns.
The “find the mouse” game can become tedious for adults. Your baby will love it.
You might get tired of pointing out the mouse on page 6 for the 400th time.
The story has no plot. Each page is independent.
If you prefer books with narratives or story arcs, this format won’t satisfy that preference.
The book works best as part of a varied collection. You’ll want books with different purposes: sensory books like this one, story books, concept books about colors or shapes, and books with photos of real objects.
Comparing to Similar Books
The “That’s Not My…” series includes dozens of titles. Puppy, dinosaur, truck, fairy, unicorn, and many others follow the same format.
The format stays consistent across all titles. If your baby likes the puppy book, they’ll likely enjoy the dinosaur or truck versions.
You can expand your collection without guessing whether the format will work.
Other tactile board books exist from different publishers. Some use similar texture patches but lack the repetitive text structure.
Others have more textures per page, which can overwhelm younger babies.
The “That’s Not My…” series strikes a balance. Each page has one main texture, keeping it simple enough for babies to focus.
The consistent text structure across the entire series makes them easy for you to read and easy for your baby to recognize.
Price-wise, these books cost $7-11 depending on where you purchase them. This sits in the middle range for board books.
You can find cheaper options, but they often sacrifice durability or design quality.
Quick Reference Guide
| Feature | Details |
|———|———|
| Age Range | Birth to 3 years (optimal: 6-18 months) |
| Page Count | 10 pages |
| Format | Board book with tactile patches |
| Dimensions | 6.5 x 6.5 inches (approximately) |
| Durability | High, withstands chewing, throwing, repeated use |
| Text Complexity | Very simple, repetitive structure |
| Interactive Elements | Touch-and-feel textures, hidden mouse on each page |
| Learning Focus | Sensory development, language patterns, visual tracking |
| Best For | First tactile book, screen-free engagement, multilingual families |
Using the Book Effectively
Start Before You Think You Should
Many parents wait until their baby shows interest in books. This creates a chicken-and-egg problem.
Your baby can’t show interest in something they haven’t experienced.
Start reading at 2-3 months. Your baby won’t interact with the book yet, but they’ll see the images and hear your voice.
This early exposure builds familiarity.
Guide Their Hands
Young babies don’t automatically know to touch the texture patches. Take their hand and guide it to the fuzzy ears or smooth nose.
Say the word while they touch it: “Fuzzy. Feel how fuzzy?”
After several guided experiences, they’ll start reaching for the textures independently.
Read It Daily
Repetition matters. Reading the book once per week won’t create the same neural connections as reading it daily.
Even 3-4 times per week shows measurably different results compared to weekly reading.
The time commitment is minimal. You can read the entire book in under 5 minutes.
Most families find time during morning play, before naps, or as part of bedtime routines.
Make It Interactive
Point to the mouse on each page. Ask “Where’s the mouse?” even before your baby can answer.
They’ll learn that reading involves interaction, not just passive listening.
Talk about the textures beyond what the book says. “This one feels soft. Do you like the soft one?” Expanding on the text builds vocabulary and conversation skills.
Rotate Books
Keep 3-4 books in rotation rather than reading the same one exclusively. This prevents boredom for both you and your baby.
Within the “That’s Not My…” series, you might rotate between puppy, dinosaur, and truck versions.
Get Thats Not My Puppy on Amazon
Common Questions From Parents
My baby just chews the book. Does that mean they’re not ready?
Chewing is normal exploration for babies. They learn about objects by putting them in their mouths.
The board book format handles this behavior.
Your baby is still seeing the images and hearing your words even while chewing the corner.
You can gently redirect their attention to the textures: “Let’s feel the fuzzy ears” while moving their hand to the texture patch.
How long until my baby actually engages with the book?
Engagement develops in stages. Visual attention often comes first around 2-4 months.
Reaching for textures typically starts around 6-8 months.
Verbal participation might not happen until 12-18 months.
Each baby develops on their own timeline. Consistent reading builds engagement over time.
Can I use this book for multilingual learning?
Yes, and this that’s not my puppy review specifically highlights why it works well for multilingual families. The simple text translates easily into any language.
You can read the text in one language, then describe the textures in another language.
The pictures and textures stay consistent regardless of language, giving your baby stable visual anchors while hearing different words.
Is this book worth buying if we already have other board books?
If your other board books lack tactile elements, then yes. The texture component provides different developmental benefits than books with only visual elements.
If you already own several “That’s Not My…” books, the puppy version won’t add much beyond a different animal theme. The format stays consistent across the series.
Who Benefits Most From This Book
Families seeking screen-free engagement options find this book valuable. The textures provide stimulation that screens cannot copy.
Parents who feel uncertain about reading to babies appreciate the simple format. You don’t need to be a dynamic storyteller.
The book works even when you read it in a flat, tired voice.
Homes with many children benefit because the book works across age ranges. A 3-year-old can “read” it to a 6-month-old sibling.
Educators and caregivers use these books in group settings. The simple text and interactive elements keep many children engaged simultaneously.
Families building home libraries from scratch need foundation books like this one. It represents the sensory/tactile category well and can tell whether you want more books in this style.
Making the Purchase Decision
The book costs roughly $7-11, placing it in the mid-range for children’s board books. This price reflects the quality construction and embedded texture patches.
You’ll get months of use from this book, often extending through many children if you have them. The durability justifies the cost for most families.
Consider purchasing 2-3 titles from the “That’s Not My…” series if you want variety without buying many different book styles. This gives you rotation options while maintaining a format your baby recognizes.
The book ships from major retailers. You can find it at bookstores, Amazon, Target, and other stores carrying children’s books.
Availability is generally good since it’s an established series.
Final Assessment
This that’s not my puppy review comes down to one conclusion: the book delivers on its specific promise. It provides durable, sensory-rich reading material designed for babies 0-18 months.
The book will not teach your baby advanced concepts or complex stories. You need different books for those purposes.
What it does well: creates positive reading experiences, provides tactile stimulation, uses high-contrast visuals that match infant vision development, introduces repetitive language patterns, and survives rough handling.
For families wanting to introduce books early, this represents a solid starting point. The simple format reduces pressure on parents while providing genuine developmental benefits for babies.
The textures transform reading from a passive activity into an interactive experience. Your baby touches, sees, and hears simultaneously, which creates stronger learning than single-sense activities.
You can read it when you’re tired, when you’re waiting somewhere, or as part of daily routines. The flexibility makes it practical for real-life parenting situations.
If you need a durable first book that actually holds a baby’s attention, this book performs that role well. It won’t change your child’s development, but it builds positive associations with reading during critical early months when those associations form.
The value comes from repeated use over months, not from a single reading. Plan to read it dozens or hundreds of times.
The simple format makes this repetition manageable rather than exhausting.