My Dog Laughs

by Rachel Isadora, Rachel Isadora (Illustrator)

Overview

Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora's delightful introduction to the joys of having a dog stars a diverse ensemble of adorable kids and their beloved canine friends, in a style reminiscent of her popular I Hear a Pickle.

Dogs are amazing! Dogs are a lot of work! And here is the perfect book to help a child understand what is involved in living with one. Lively illustrations show a variety of children learning what makes their dog tick, as they train them, care for them, and play with them. But most of all, it celebrates the fact that dogs are truly awesome companions—who are always happy to see you, and who can even sing, laugh and dream with you!

Rachel Isadora's love for our canine friends shines through on every page, as she shares some of the best—and most exasperating!—things about having a dog.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399173851
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/21/2018
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	537,537
Product dimensions:	9.60(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Rachel Isadora received a Caldecott Honor for Ben's Trumpet, and has written and illustrated numerous other books for children, including several classic tales set in Africa (such as Old Mikamba Had a Farm and The Princess and the Pea), My Dog Laughs, I Just Want to Say Good Night, I Hear a Pickle, Bea in the Nutcracker, Bea at Ballet, Jake at Gymnastics, Say Hello!, Peekaboo Morning, and the Lili at Ballet series. She lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

* “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

From the Publisher

★ 08/01/2018
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

School Library Journal

2018-06-25
This episodic collection of insights into canine behavior features dogs of many breeds, sizes, and ages, with a cast of charming toddlers and preschoolers describing their dogs.The text is divided into topical sections about meeting and getting to know a dog, training, going on outings, playing together, and special kinds of loving behavior. 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. "My dog loves belly rubs," says one child, demonstrating on a happy terrier; "My dog likes to lick!" says another, as she receives a big, wet one on the cheek. The text flows in a logical fashion, with each child chiming in, and the particular behavior or description extends through several different dogs. The whole gamut of canine behavior is covered: leashes, names, going potty, eating, playing, sleeping, and getting into trouble. Isadora's spare ink-and-watercolor illustrations are delightfully amusing, whether showing the children romping with their dogs or having a quiet snuggle. Each page presents two or three vignettes of child and dog surrounded by plenty of white space, which, along with the oversized format, provides a fresh, clean feeling overall. The illustrations include children of many different ethnicities, a female vet, and a child who uses a wheelchair.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. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews