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The only behavior measure that correlates significantly with reading scores is the number of books in the home. An ana... More
Summary: The family has a dog named Rosy, who is large and soft and easy going. Everything is going so well they decided to get another dog. So they brought home Dave. He is small and wild. So they decide he needs training. But after he's trained, no one likes how much it changed Dave. When they see Dave is unhappy, they decide to let him be himself. This is a sequel to the book
Type of Reading: family reading, anytime reading, playtime reading, read aloud book
Recommended Age: read together: 3 to 8; read yourself: 6 to 9
Interest Level: 3 to 9
Age of Child: Read with a 5-year-old girl.
Little Kid Reaction: My daughter thought it was funny that the family would make the dog to obey what the trainer said instead of just letting him be a fun dog. She laughed at Dave trying to get into the owner's chair all the time. She said it was great that the family finally let the dog be himself.
Big Kid Reaction: I liked this book. It offered a lesson in accepting individuals as they are and that the must want to change themselves. I was hoping my daughter would really like the story, but the message did come across so that was good. She laughed when she was supposed to and felt bad for the dog when they tried to change him to a perfectly behaved pet.
Pros: This is a good story for anyone who likes dog stories or parents who want to help kids understand that each of us is different.
Cons: While I understand that the dog wasn't mean on purpose. the story could be a little more realistic. Dave can learn from the experience, too, not just his owners. The author could easily have shown Dave obeying when they call or moving off the chair when they ask him to.
Borrow or Buy: Borrow. This is a fun story to share with your kids ... especially if you have pets.
Educational Themes: The story is presented in such a way that kids can see themselves in both the family and as Dave. There are opportunities to go beyond the book to talk about the different personalities in your house, reinforcing the idea that different doesn't mean bad; and that you can't make people behave the way you do or you think they should.
Literary Categories: Fiction - picture book, animal stories, family
Date(s) Reviewed: July 2009
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