It's a Dog's Life

May 21, 2012
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.

June 1, 2012
(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)

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July 1, 2012

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

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