Any Kind of Dog [Hardcover]

Lynn Reiser (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

All Richard wants is a dog even though his mother tries to give him other kinds of pets.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-- Richard wants a dog, but his mother thinks a dog is too much trouble. So begins the youngster's adventures with all sorts of other pets, from caterpillars to bears. Amusing pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings show how the boy converts each substitute into his longed-for canine. Even a caterpillar can be made to look like a Lhasa Apso in his imagination. When his mother gives in, Richard admits that a dog is a lot of trouble--``but it was worth it.'' The illustrations make the most of the absurdity of the mother's ``no dog'' rule taken to its extreme and of Richard's stubborn refusal to be put off. The boldly colored pictures filled with funny details embellish the story nicely, particularly the final scene, which shows all of the previous pets as stuffed animals. --Anna Biagioni Hart, Martha Washington Library, Alexandria, VA-
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

From a psychiatrist who debuted with Bedtime Cat (1991), another story constructed on a repetitive pattern, but with a stronger story and a more satisfying conclusion. Richard wants a dog, but his mother says it'd be too much trouble; instead, she gets him other animals, each resembling one of the dogs in the book he's always reading (the mouse looks like a Chihuahua) and each larger than the last (the pony looks like a Great Dane). At last, Richard has his way--and the dog is ``a lot of trouble, but it was worth it.'' The conclusion is realistic--though the dog is real, all the other animals turn out to be toys. Unpretentious but amusingly expressive, Reiser's bright pen-and-watercolor illustrations tell much of the story, while the very simple phrases in the text get funnier with each dogged repetition-- readers are sure to chortle at the idea that a bear, and even a lion, could be less trouble than a dog. A promising readaloud. (Picture book. 3-7) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 1 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow; 1st edition (March 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688109144
• ISBN-13: 978-0688109141
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,310,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Kindergartener Can't Get Enough of It!, February 9, 2000

By 

Kathy Agee (Grand Rapids, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Any Kind of Dog (Paperback)

My 5 year old son checks out many books from kindergarten to read and this has been the most read one he's brought home all year! The drawings are fun, the story line is simple and cute, and the repetitive pattern of the words are fun for him to say along with me as I read it to him. This would be a good learning to read book also as the type is large and you come across many of the same words on each page. It's also a book a parent can enjoy (and we don't even have a dog!)

5.0 out of 5 stars Any Kind of Dog, June 25, 2011

By 

Jennifer T. Meyer "Zshen" (Palmyra, NE USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Any Kind of Dog (Paperback)

I gave this book to my 11 year old niece on her birthday. When she was 18 months old she and her Mom would read it together and every time the word "dog" came up my niece would gruffly shout "dog!" Didn't know if she would have a memory of that --- she didn't --- but her Mom did, and there are other kids who (hopefully) will enjoy it in the years to come! Great book for a little kid, not so great for a tween. :)

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our copy is "dog-eared!", January 12, 2002

By 

cacklinrose "cacklinrose" (N. Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Any Kind of Dog (Hardcover)

My son received this for Christmas when he was 2 1/2 and asking for a dog of his own. After two years -- and his own dog -- it is still read several times a week. He chuckles at the animals wreaking havoc in the living room while Richard pines for a real dog. The pictures are just as entertaining as the text! I recommend this humorous book for all children, not just dog lovers, since the repetition and illustrations will captivate, and Richard's perseverance will be admired.