Bad Dog [Hardcover]

Nina Laden (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

A free-spirited, bored, and hungry dog misunderstands an ad for free range chickens, and when he and a friend set out to get some, they discover that the chickens--and the police--have other ideas.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Like the wolf of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, this book's smooth-talking outlaw insists he is misunderstood. The bad dog, dressed burglar style in a turtleneck and beret, says his troubles began with a deceptive ad for "free-range chickens." He and his partner in crime, a bulldog named Butch, speed away in search of the well-stocked chicken coop. Laden's knack for economy, in evidence in Roberto: The Insect Architect (reviewed above), seems conspicuously absent here: a plethora of puns and mixed metaphors litter this escapade. When the hard-boiled criminal grabs some hens, "farmers yelled, 'Get that poacher!' 'This won't be over easy,' I mumbled as I scrambled to hatch a plan." Not only are the one-liners over the top, but such jokey repartee contradicts the ugly behavior of the perp, who demolishes a mailbox, sends chicken feathers flying and snarls at angry police. In spooky, high-contrast images like the mug shot on the cover, the white-furred protagonist seems illuminated by a 100-watt bulb and projects an icy attitude (even though he winks at the story's end). While the wordplay suggests pure silliness, the casualAand human-scaleAcrimes detract from this desperado's charm. Ages 6-10. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-Bad Dog relates the events that occur as a result of finding a postcard advertising free-range chickens. What is a dog who was "starving for adventure, hungry for chicken" to do? He and his pal Butch set out for their "free lunch," become entangled with the authorities, and set their juicy sights on all those chickens. Eventually, the law catches up with him and it's jail for certain. While waiting for his family to come to get him out, he finds what he wanted-a bucket of fried chicken in the next room. The rollicking text is full of humorous innuendo. Similes that reflect a canine point of view ("The car growled like a pit bull"), twisted phrases (the ensuing chase is "pure poultry in motion"), and a first-person narrative in a deadpan style that resembles that of Joe Friday in the Dragnet TV series give this book a flavor all its own. The illustrations are equally funny, capturing all of the canine antics. The picture of the dogs looking into the pen is especially hilarious, as they view the birds in their cooked state but still with legs: chicken sandwiches, chicken pot pie, buffalo wings, etc. The endpapers featuring mug shots of other "bad dogs" is an additional bonus. Bad Dog is good fun.
Sheilah Kosco, Rapides Parish Library, Alexandria, LA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802787479
• ISBN-13: 978-0802787477
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,731,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nina Laden grew up in the New York City area. She now lives in an old farmhouse in Seattle, which she renovated with her husband. She is the author and illustrator of many books for children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a pun-tastic childrens book about dogs, April 17, 2001

By 

Mary Beth (Clemson, SC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bad Dog (Hardcover)

Bad Dog puts the reader into the life of a daring dog. Using wonderful alliteration and playful puns this book helps readers to know what it is like for a dog get out of the boring, housebound lifestyle and randomly break into a chicken coop. This book helps you see that our "Bad Dog", Bad Dog being his name, is not trying to be malicious, but rather he is just bored and not properly cared for. Nina Laden's cute children's book follows a particular canine friend through a typical "bad" day. With this newfound freedom, Bad Dog is seeking adventure and some lunch. With this in mind, Bad Dog picks up his friend Butch the Bulldog in a stolen car with the mission to find a chicken coop. Nina Laden uses great alliteration during the chicken chase. She uses many words associated with chicken and egg foods as a way for Bad Dog to describe what he sees. The pictures depict walking chicken sandwiches, tenders, pies and casseroles... the whole reason Bad Dog is here in the first place. Butch and Bad Dog want lunch. Unfortunately for the dogs but fortunately for the chickens, the farmer apprehends the bandits before they do any damage. Butch fled the scene as many dogs would have, but Bad Dog took the car on a "wild chicken chase." The dogcatcher catches him and puts him in the clinker. While waiting to be picked up, Bad Dog finds a bucket of chicken in the next room. Bad Dog gets his chicken after all. He eats the policemen's lunch and called it paw licking' good! The book Bad Dog is a cute children's tale that is visually appealing because Laden uses vivid colors throughout. It is also easy to read along with. I do not see any awards in its future, although it could very easily become a favorite of bad dog lovers. Maybe Nina Laden would consider writing a Bad Dog. Overall, I really liked the concept although it drove home the point that all dogs should be attended to carefully.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just for children, October 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Bad Dog (Hardcover)

Wow! what a funny book. The wordplay is subtle and hilarious. An excellent coffee table book for grown-ups and a fast paced tale for kids with lively illustrations and an ending that would make a nice thing to chat about with kids.