Publishers Weekly
A wisecracking dog narrates this off-the-cuff look at the “secret life” of his species. Goodman (See How They Run) opens with a brief overview of dogs’ rapport with early humans and their subsequent roles (honed through breeding) as hunters, herders, haulers, and guide dogs. Noting “we take this best friend business very seriously,” the canine narrator then offers an anecdotal discussion of dogs’ sharp hearing, keen sense of smell, variable eyesight (“we’re not the best at seeing details”), and methods of communication, including barking, tail wagging, and body language. Providing solid likenesses of a range of breeds, Slonim’s (10 Turkeys in the Road) cartoons suit the upbeat, comedic tone of the text (“We pee on every rock and tree for good reason. Think of that telephone pole as a newspaper or pee-mail”). Additional information from “a human point of view” closes out the book and expands on topics covered earlier (“The section of a dog’s brain devoted to smell is forty times bigger than in human ones”). An agreeable and enlightening jumble of facts and humor. Ages 6–9. (July)
From the Publisher
With its goofy, informative charm, this has potential for readers hurried or reluctant as well as simply dog-loving…” —BCCB
“Children will be barking up the right tree with this enjoyable read.” —Kirkus
“An agreeable and enlightening jumble of facts and humor.” —Publishers Weekly
School Library Journal - Audio
Gr 1–5—Susan E. Goodman's nonfiction book (Flash Point, 2012), with hilarious illustrations by David Slonim, explains the real meaning behind your dog's every move. Who knew they had such a secret life? All is revealed about "how man's best friend sees, hears and smells the world." For example, with 220 million special cells in their noses (compared to our mere 5 million,), no wonder dogs are obsessed with sniffing the fire hydrants. Insights abound in this clever recording as the history of human-canine interaction is traced. The start of a beautiful friendship with dogs began as an epiphany: "Ah, a garbage disposal and watchdog in one!" So, humans began breeding dogs to do other work: hunting, guarding, herding, and hauling. In modern times, their superior snouts have been used to catch criminals, find missing people in rubble, and sniff out drugs and even bedbugs. While Johnny Heller provides a nuanced narration of the humorous text, the audio falls flat without a scrap of musical introduction or sound effects. With a Woof/English Dictionary included, it cries out for doggie sound effects at the very least to enhance the meaning and auditory experience. Point of view is contrasted through the use of a female voice articulating for people, while Heller's wisecracking voice expresses the canine. At the risk of sounding barking mad, a few well-placed yowls, woofs, or pants would have gone a long way towards transforming the audiobook into a rollicking, revelatory exposé.—Lonna Pierce, MacArthur and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Binghamton, NY
School Library Journal
Gr 1–4—This fun and funny book explores the history, sensory reality, and "secret life" of dogs. Supported by Slonim's pitch-perfect cartoon illustrations, the canine narrator describes how dogs became domesticated, how they developed into different breeds, and why they do things like stick their heads out of car windows. (In case you're wondering, it's because their sense of smell works even better when they are moving quickly.) With a great deal of information presented in a humorous, engaging way, this title is ideal for young dog lovers, including reluctant readers.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD
JANUARY 2013 - AudioFile
Speaking on behalf of canines, narrator Johnny Heller delivers a spirited performance of Goodman's fact-filled look at dogs, setting the record straight about why dogs do what they do. Dogs and people do not “see eye to eye or hear ear to ear,” after all. Balancing the engaging mix of the informative and the sentimental, Heller informs listeners about the curiosities of canine behavior and encourages a greater level of understanding. Christina Moore finishes the presentation by offering a human point of view. Her clear narration of a concise history of dogs rounds out this engaging introduction to man's best friend. A.S. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
(A lot of) everything kids ever wanted to know about dogs--but couldn't ask. Now, the bare bones of doggy secrets are revealed. Readers will pore over and savor this slim, well-paced guide, which is narrated in friendly, conversational tone by a scruffily engaging mutt. Wittily illustrated in child-appealing, cartoony watercolors and chock-full of simple explanations of why man's best friends do what they do, this is just the book for younger dog lovers, dog owners and wannabes. They'll learn why our four-legged friends will eat almost anything (they have far fewer taste buds than humans), why they run from vacuum cleaners (supersensitive hearing), why they love hanging out of car windows (their sense of smell works better at high speed), and what those urine spatters on fire hydrants really mean (doggy newspapers). Who knew a dog's inability to see colors well derives from prehistoric feeding habits? Sadly, some misspellings, including "Dalmation," were not caught in copy editing. Children will be barking up the right tree with this enjoyable read. There's still no telling why dogs run after letter carriers, though.… (bibliography) (Nonfiction. 7-10)
