Customer
Reviews
Good Dog Review
Great pictures that capture the essence of bounding, out-of-control, canine enthusiasm. Mrs. Birdhead and cat get supporting character awards. It's a fun book to read to children.
How To Be A Good Story Book
My four-year-old grandaughter, already a great dog lover, loves this book with its wonderful humor and whimsy. Since it's fun for a grown-up too, it's just about perfect.
New York Times Book Review May 14, 2006
Who Let the Dogs In?
Review by PATRICIA T. O'CONNER
As we all know, bad boys are more charming than good ones. Naughtiness, like it or not (and we do), is alluring. Maybe that's why it's easier to forgive a bad boy's captivating faults than a good boy's perfections - assuming, of course, that the bad boy doesn't bite.
Bobo, the great galumphing hound in Gail Page's "How to Be a Good Dog," is the canine Oscar Madison. He reads with his feet on the coffee table. He rummages in the refrigerator between meals, then eats messy snacks on the living-room furniture. He leaves muddy paw prints everywhere. He chews up homework, though it's not clear whose, since his owner, Mrs. Birdhead, is the only human on the premises. Never mind. This dog finds homework to chew up.
When Mrs. Birdhead finally exiles Bobo to the doghouse, he's missed by an unlikely ally - lonely, good-hearted Cat, who plots to restore Bobo to their owner's good graces. Armed with a book on dog obedience, Cat teaches Bobo a few civilizing tricks (lying down comes naturally). The road to perfection is bumpy, and Bobo never quite arrives. But because he tries, he gets a "good dog" from his owner, and that's what counts in the end.
Works on many levels
My 2-year old daughter enjoys this book as much as the adults that read it to her, but on a very different level. She loves the idea that Bobo WANTS to be a good dog, but doesn't always succeed, and that his friends help him. She also loves the big KAPOW when he runs into Mrs. Birdhead. (Oh, and she enjoys trying to imitate Bobo sitting, particularly lotus position.) She has no idea why the adults think it's funny that Bobo's idea of "sit" involves a chair and sometimes the lotus position. She sees it as a finely nuanced psychological book about ethics (why is it OK for Cat to push Bobo when he's running down the stairs?) with good sound effects and a dog, which is everything she ever wanted out of a book.
Bobo's a hit
Our grandchildren,(Charlotte, 7, Lucy, 4, amd Peter, 2 1/2), giggled their way through this charming book. Gail Page's endearing illustrations depict Bobo as the favorite dog of everyone's childhood. And Cat, more helpful than most cats we've known personally, is a star as well. This is one of those special books that makes readers young and old smile in recognition.Our son, Alex,age 32, brought this book to our attention and we all loved it.
Get the
How to Be a Good Dog
at Amazon!
|
