My Dog Laughs

PreS-Gr 1--Readers without a puppy will soon be begging for a dog of their own by the conclusion of this enchanting look at pet ownership. Eschewing a standard story line, Isadora instead divides the book into several sections (playtime, training, walks), each with a chorus of children piping up with facts about their pups. "My dog likes to lick!" squeals one little girl, leaning in as her golden retriever gives her a smooch. "Mine too!" adds another, grinning as her French bulldog tickles her bare feet. The children's observations often turn amusingly candid: "My dog farts a lot," one child says. As with I Hear a Pickle, Isadora delightfully showcases everyday pleasures. Relying on expressive, minimalist art and simple prose, she offers a winsome take on a well-trod topic. VERDICT This charming work deserves a spot in all libraries.--Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

* "Readers without a puppy will soon be begging for a dog of their own by the conclusion of this enchanting look at pet ownership. . . . The children's observations often turn amusingly candid. . . . As with I Hear a Pickle, Isadora delightfully showcases everyday pleasures. Relying on expressive, minimalist art and simple prose, she offers a winsome take on a well-trod topic. This charming work deserves a spot in all libraries."—School Library Journal, starred review

"Features dogs of many breeds, sizes, and ages, with a cast of charming toddlers and preschoolers describing their dogs. . . . Each section shows different children interacting with their own dogs in all sorts of situations, described with just a few words of text with the child as narrator. . . . The whole gamut of canine behavior is covered. . . . Isadora's spare ink-and-watercolor illustrations are delightfully amusing, whether showing the children romping with their dogs or having a quiet snuggle. . . . This endearing introduction to dog behavior will please those who already have a dog and make those who don't want to join the fun."—Kirkus Reviews

"There's some nice messaging about good dogmanship and good lessons for everybody, and plenty of humor. The spirited, informal line and watercolor vignettes, featuring a multiracial cast of kids and a multi-breed cast of dogs, offer peeks into various kinds of kid-and-dog interactions, and throughout there's a happy cavalcade of wagging tails and owners who'd wag 'em if they had 'em. The result is a catalogue of the kind of vivid detail that will make dog owners yelp in recognition and the dogless whimper in yearning."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books