Book Review: Everything Dog (Q/A about dogs for kids)

Everything Dog - What Kids Really Want to Know About Dogs, by Marty Crisp (Northwood, 2003, 64 pages, $7.95, 8-11 years, grades 3-6)

Thirty-two questions (and answers) kids may have about dogs, plus a page of resources and a page of fun superlatives (hairiest, baldest, noisiest, quietest dog) make this a fun resource book. Though having been around for more than a decade, Everything Dog is still modern and up-to-date, except for a very few ‘facts.’

We even learned a couple of things about dogs and we have been in the business of learning about dogs for about 25 years now: dog ears can be termed prick, pendant, button and docked, but also rose ears (bulldogs) and bat ears (basenjis). Dogs have cut tails or otter tails, but also bobtails (OES), crank tails (bulldog), squirrel tails (peke), flagpole tails (bassett), rat tails (Irish water spaniel), pothook tails (Shih Tzu), whip tails (greyhound), curled tails (chow chow), plume tails (Pom), ring tails (Afghan), sword or saber tails (GSD), tufted tails (Chinese Crested), or sickle tails (Chi)! Whew!

Are you a kid who has always wondered if dogs can cry? Or what dog food tastes like? Or why dogs lick us?

Everything Dog is a fun fact book a kid will want to keep around and keep handy after reading it, just in case a younger brother or sister has the same questions someday! And there are lots of great photos.

Book Review: Puppy School (dogs, puppies, school, brother and sister)

Puppy School: What Happens When Dogs Come to School? (Puppy Patrol #14 of 46) by Jenny Dale (Scholastic, 1998, 110 pages, $3.99, grades 2-5, ages 7-10)

As are all of Jenny Dale’s dog novels for kids in the Puppy Patrol series, Puppy School has several stories going on at once with one main one that starts late but gains momentum rapidly.

Puppy School stars the usual brother-sister due in England of Neil, 12, and Emily, 11, (and little Sarah, 5) who live at a boarding kennel/dog shelter with their parents and actually get along with each other. And, as usual, the kids outshine the adults! And teach them lesson after lesson (other kids learn their lessons in life, too, and apologize and grow but the reader identifies first with Neil and also with Emily).

In Puppy School, mother Carole is bitten by a dog the kennel is boarding and loses her connection with, love for and comfort level around dogs, replaced by fear and distance that only young Neil ‘treats,’ albeit surreptitiously (with classical conditioning a la Pavlov!)

And then we have Neil’s and Emily’s school with a beloved teacher and a grumpy principal, Grumpy Grundy! And we also have elementary school students who start a petition drive when they are told their classroom animals are no longer permitted. And the girls are given the directive that they must wear dresses or skirts – pants, no longer. Even I would rebel!

But dogs come into play everywhere and are woven into this multi-faceted story because Neil walks his teacher’s dog who is about to have puppies. This poor fatigued favorite teacher also has a new baby in the house and. . . .

How the kids change the rules back at the last minute and learn that Dalmatian puppies are born ‘spot-less’ even if they give birth in a school classroom is a convoluted breathless plot that all kids will enjoy (and the dog bite subplot is educational, a teaching moment about the facts of life, not all of which are a bed of roses but nevertheless spark discussion).

(DogEvals has reviewed other books by Jenny Dale: Trick or Treat, Top Dog, About Charlie. . . , and Tug of Love)

Book Review: Emerson Barks (dog, girl, cat, barking, friendship)

Emerson Barks, by Liza Woodruff (Henry Holt & Company, 2016, 32 pages, $16.99, ages 4-8, grades 1 to 2)

Yes, Emerson the Dog Barks

He barks. And barks. And barks. He loves to bark when he gets excited, when he sees friends – just about any time. And little Emerson has a great big bark.

But how much barking is too much?

One day Emerson finds out: his barking scares off Kissy the cat who runs away so everyone yells at Emerson, from his girl to the postman to the lady next door who lives with Kissy. So Emerson tucks his tail and keeps his barks inside himself. But then his tummy hurts from all the barks kept inside. How long can he keep his barks inside?

What do You Think?

Does Kissy come home? Who finds her? Does Emerson? How? Can a dog learn not to bark so much?

A cute but very short story, Emerson Barks has delightful drawings. Author and illustrator Liza Woodruff depicts the dog’s body language just right – from the wagging tail (vibrating, actually) when he sees a friend, to the tucked tail when he is in trouble, to surprise, to love, to waiting for a bone, to having his tummy rubbed. Plus the simple colored line drawings of the people are also just right.

This is the first book Woodruff has written but the 20^th (or more) she has illustrated. We think this is the best! What do you think?

Book Review: Stowaway! (dogs, pirates, boy, cats)

Stowaway! The First Book (of nine) in the Puppy Pirates Series, by Erin Soderberg (Random House, 2015, 96 pages, $4.99, 6-9 years, grades 1-4)

Ah, the tables are turned and the world is run by dogs (with a token Henry-boy who comes along for the ride and has thumbs which come in handy). Wally the pup (aka Walty) wants to be a pirate so badly that he stows away on blundering Captain Red Beard’s Salty Bone, a puppy pirate ship manned by dogs.

In order to stay onboard and become a real pirate, Walty must pass muster (pass some pirate tests, including helping out the cook, Steak-Eyes). He must face his fear of heights and help fight the cat pirate ship, the Nine Lives (with his intellect!).

The best part of Stowaway!? The terminology your child will learn and use after reading this chapter book: words like ahoy and aye-aye. The story is quite creative but there is something missing that I just can’t put my finger on. Perhaps it is the (probable) golden pup on the front cover who turns into an unrecognizable breed inside?

Final Day for the Virginia Super Pet Expo

Don’t Miss Virginia’s Super Pet Expo

Today is the final day to take in all the color and sound and fun and AllThingsDog and Cat and Bunny and Bird and Reptile – until next year. The Expo closes at 5 today.

Lovely Doodlebug Quilts

Yes, the Bassett is real, welcoming you to his lovely dog-themed quilts (shown) and pillows (just out of the picture to the right).  Many many breeds already available and more to come (cats, too, of course).

Doody Calls

If you missed the Puppy Kissing Booth, you can still “hug-a-dog” at the Doody Calls booth.

Simply the largest Shar Pei I have ever seen will welcome you to a demonstration with real-fake poop all over the real-fake grass in the background, reminding you to pick up after your dog – or hire Doody Calls! Much easier.

Thank a Military Working Dog or Handler, or a Veteran or ‘Firster’

Find out how you can help a worthy veteran get a service dog at the Veterans Moving Forward booth. Change a veteran’s life by raising a service dog puppy or playing in their golf tournament or helping to fundraise or spread the word.

 Soldier Solutions supports deserving veteran and first-responder (Firster) organizations through the sale of their Ts and hoodies and other items. Have you seen a red RED T-shirt and wondered what it was all about?

Here’s your chance to find out and then tell others (Remember Everyone Deployed). And, yes, there is still a need.

No Dog Left Behind

supports our troops and their war-torn pups and brings them to the US to a new life with the person who saved him in the combat zone. And the pup served, too, by comforting the troops just as my ‘roommate’ in Afghanistan found a dog to love ‘over there.’ Love those Army-green T’s and dog tags!

“Two Heroes, One Leash” Paws of Honor 

Paws of Honor is an organization that raises funds to pay vet bills of veterans’ retired service dogs or pets in Washington, DC, area, when the dogs retire.  

Read The Guardians of the Night here.

Let’s Not Forget the Cats, the Bunnies, the Birds and Snakes

They are pets, too! Walk through the Reptile Room

and watch the Cat Show. Pet a Bunny and talk to a Bird!

New Harness in Town

The Halo Harness is a new humane way to walk your dog. It will be available in May in five sizes to help turn your dog into an angel on walks. After all, a dog collar is just jewelry!

PetConnect

This PetConnect ‘App’ booth will grab your attention like it did mine!

Creature Comforts

Who says dog furniture can’t be beautiful?

Creature Comforts builds beautiful mosaic feeding stations for your dog in all sizes as well as kibble keepers and dog leash hooks you can personalize with each dog’s photo.

Running out of Time?

The Super Pet Expo has so much to see and do and eat and laugh at and – buy, that you won’t have time for it all. These three articles have just whetted your appetite to return next year, too.

What’s New?

A doughnut shaped bed for Fido or Fluffy by Daily Dally. You need more than one because you have more than one room! Match the décor.

Step 1: Adopt a pet.

Step 2: Get a Daily Dally.

Step 3: Insert pet into Dally.

Mutt Mento

Mutt Mentos are new! A scrapbook you can make your own, for you favorite dog’s life. Cats are coming next. Adorable.

Moving?

Contact Capital PetMovers to help your pet make the trip. They will move your pet or make the travel seem seamless by arranging everything from plane reservations to the perfect travel crate to necessary documents and vet checks.

That’s All, Folks

And that’s all I had time for but I only attended the Super Pet Expo one day. You can be sure I will be there again next year. There is still time for you to take in all the fun this year, though, until 5 pm.