Go Away, Dog (My First I Can Read) [Paperback]

Joan L. Nodset (Author), Paul Meisel (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: My First I Can Read

Dog be gone!

The big old dog wants to play. Can the little boy make him go away?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2. A little boy doesn't like dogs until a friendly, white pup with black spots convinces him to reconsider his opinion. The dog does tricks, runs, and plays until the child takes him home. First published 30 years ago, the book is now in a "My First I Can Read" format. New, engaging, watercolor illustrations reflect the simple spirit of a youngster finding a new friend in a persistent canine. With its controlled vocabulary, this will be a surefire hit with emergent readers, a group always in need of a quality story.?Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 1^-2. A little boy playing outdoors tries his best to make a dog go away, but the friendly pooch gradually wins him over. Emergent readers, who may feel the same way about dogs as the little boy does, will love seeing how the dog lures the boy into playing ("I don't want that stick. Don't give it to me. If I throw the stick, will you go away?"). Nodset (aka Joan Lexau) packs a lot of story into remarkably few words, with only one or two sentences per page. The reissued story is accompanied by engaging, full-color illustrations showing an African American boy and a Heinz 57 dog with a constantly wagging tail. Susan Dove Lempke --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (March 19, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064442314
• ISBN-13: 978-0064442312
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,951 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A very negative feeling to it, November 20, 2009

By 

eyecore (PacNW, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Go Away, Dog (My First I Can Read) (Paperback)

Having ordered a big pile of My First and Level 1 books for my child, I had chosen this one because...kids love dogs! So I figured this would have been one of the favorites. Not so. That award goes to Morris Goes to School (I Can Read Book 1).

I'm not sure why my child doesn't like it as much as others, but here's why I don't like it: it's terribly negative.

Every page has something like "Go away dog, I don't like dogs." Yeah, THOSE are the words and phrases I want my kid repeating. "Go away" and "I don't like..."

Sure, the language is simple enough that a child could pick it up easily, but why not make it a bit more positive? Maybe "Wake up, dog" and the kid in the book repeats something more upbeat... "Wake up, dog. Let's go play!"

At any rate...of all of the books I purchased, this is the only one that I really wouldn't recommend. Sure, it may help with language. But for a child learning new words and phrases, the ones in this book wouldn't be my first pick to have repeated.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My "most favorite book", May 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Go Away, Dog (My First I Can Read) (Paperback)

I have the original version (1963) and mine has the following inscription written by my mother:

"This was a library book I checked out for Lisa when she was 4 and 1/2 years old. She loved it so much she kept putting off taking it back and one day 'could never find it again'. Later, she told me she hid it and by then I had paid the library for it. Her most favorite book then and for a long time."

I cherish my copy of Go Away Dog and am buying the new version for good friend's baby shower.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Playful Pup Persuasively Pounces, February 26, 2003

By 

A.Trendl HungarianBookstore.com "What should ... (Glen Ellyn, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Go Away, Dog (My First I Can Read) (Paperback)

A boy who is afraid of dogs meets a friendly long-haired barking fellow looking to play. He tells him to go away, but the dog insists on being friends. The dog instantly loves the boy, but the boy isn't so sure.

Your child will learn how dogs are fun to play with, and how some things aren't quite as scary as they might first appear.

The colorful, warm drawings have endured through the years, and will help bring a smile to your face.

I fully recommend "Go Away, Dog."

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com