The No-Dogs-Allowed Rule

November 1, 2012

Gr 2-4-Ishan desperately wants a dog, but his mother, a busy pediatrician, has a "no dogs allowed rule." The third grader spends most of his time trying to convince her, often through misadventures of one kind or another, that he and his older brother, Sunil, deserve one. Children will relate to his stubbornness and creativity as Ishan hunkers down and focuses on dogs, dogs, dogs-to the point of driving his parents, neighbors, and extended family to distraction with his one-track mind and exploits. The story's pacing, geared toward beginning chapter-book readers, moves swiftly toward its resolution and has enough mild surprises along the way to keep youngsters turning the page to see if the boys are victorious at the end. Occasional black-and-white illustrations work well in tying the story together.-Lisa Kropp, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2012
Third-grader Ishan Mehra wages a successful campaign to repeal his mother's no-dogs-allowed rule by gently introducing her to a neighbor's dog. Ishan's original plan is to win his mother over by being especially nice and helpful. But things go wrong. His cooking makes a mess, his hall-painting makes a bigger one, and the sculpture he and his friends make with the desserts at a large community party is a big mistake. But when an elderly neighbor faints, Ishan has the presence of mind to call 9-1-1 and is allowed to keep the man's dog for a few days--time enough to help his mother get over her childhood fears. Sheth's first novel for younger readers (Boys Without Names, 2010, etc.) features a likable, determined protagonist, gentle humor and a familiar family situation. Hindi words and details of Indian-American culture--especially the food--are woven into the story, always with an explanation. The first-person, present-tense narration includes short paragraphs, ample dialogue and illustrations every few pages (final art not seen). While the multicultural aspect of this title is important, its real strength is the familiarity of Ishan's situation. Elementary school readers will find it easy to identify with both his younger-brother troubles and his desperate desire for a dog. Just right for aspiring pet owners. (Fiction. 6-9)

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October 1, 2012
Grades 1-3 Eight-year-old Ishan is desperate for a dog. His older brother and Dad agree, but Mom ( the alpha dog of our pack ) opposes the idea, prompting a creative campaign to change her mind. In a series of hilarious misadventures, Ishan sets off the smoke detector preparing Mom's favorite breakfast, can't prevent the neighbor's golden retriever from jumping on Mom, and displays canine behaviors to show how cute they are. During his resultant time-out, Ishan investigates the retriever's barking and discovers his neighbor needs medical helpand the dog, a temporary home. The author of Boys without Names (2010) here addresses a younger audience with characters who are both funny and believable. Much like his female counterparts Junie B. Jones and Ramona, Ishan's naivety and creativity will endear him to readers, as will his sibling difficulties. Ishan's South Asian heritage plays a prominent role, but it doesn't drive the plot. Illustrated with pencil drawings, this will be popular with beginning chapter-book readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)