Customer Reviews

Big Dog and Little Dog Making a Mistake: Big Dog and Little Dog Board Books

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm glad I've resumed looking board books lately, otherwise I would not have known that Dav PIlkey has a whole series of "Big Dog and Little Dog" books. Slightly older readers know Pilkey as the very, very funny, but scatologically inclined author of the "Captain Underpants" series. These intentionally juvenile forays into elementary school comedy (underwear, toilets, etc.) are more clever than they sound, but they're perhaps inapproproate for young toddlers. They have enough toilet concerns without worrying about them exploding.

"Big Dog and Little Dog Making a Mistake" has an easily understood outer message--some striped animals are skunks, NOT cats, and if you make this mistake, you might come home just as smelly as Big Dog and Little Dog do. Hopefully, when you return you won;t interrupt some hoity-toity social affair, like the tea and cake party that the two dogs spoil!

HOwever, in this 10-page board book, Pilkey conveys some valuable "inner" messages as well. He doesn't preach, but the story and bright, uncluttered pictures tell us some fairly important things, always in an entertaining style manner.

1. Big and little dogs can get along, despite their outer differences.
2. Dogs (and people) can play and explore together, noticing and talking about the same things, rather than just engage in parallel play.
3. Big dogs, just like little dogs, can make mistakes.
4. Little dogs, just like big dogs, can have bad days.
5. One can depict smelly smells by drawing green smudges on your characters, and wavy green lines emanating from them.
5. It's funny to conclude a story with dogs stinking up the joint.

The progression from innocent walk to unexpected skunk encounter, to the party people knocking over the food strewn table when they smell the smelly dogs, is smooth, logical, and funny. The book is a simple winner for infants and toddlers, and fans will want to look at other books in the series. Who knows--when they're older they might even want to read "Captain Underpants" and other small guilty pleasures by the talented Pilkey.

My kids have all of the Big Dog, Little Dog books and absolutely love them. They have learned about taking care of eachother and accepting the consequences of your actions. Cute illustrations and simple text.

I don't have any kids, but I do have five dogs, and all the Big Dog Little Dog books. I love to read them because they are so joyful and I can see the antics of my "babies" in the characters. These simple stories and happy illustrations can make me feel good on the bluest of days.

This is a thinner page board book, with few colors, and very simple illustrations. There's not much to the story and it seems to end abruptly.

I was originally very disappointed with this book in terms of its illustrations and quality, and the end of this story. Having said that, my one year old seems to really like it, so I gave it 3 stars anyway.

Here's the story:
Big Dog is going for a walk. Little Dog is going, too.
Big Dog and Little Dog see something. What do they see?
Big Dog thinks it is a kitty. Little Dog thinks so, too.
SSSss. But it does not smell like a kitty [it's a skunk]
Big Dog smells bad. Little Dog smells bad, too.
Big Dog and Little Dog had a bad day. They are going home now. [heads slunk down]
...just in time for a party! (picture of a tea party with racially diverse women breaking up).

Racially unbiased: check
Gender neutral? Probably not. Bunch of ladies having a tea party.

I bought this book for my 2 1/2 year old grandson who adores 'reading'. His Mom told me he didn't have any books in this series, so I was happy to find something new for him. She called me the day the book had arrived and he grabbed the phone from her and started chattering as only a 2 year old boy can and I heard "dog" and "peeeeeeuuuuwwwww". The book was a big hit and he loves it. His Mom said she had to read it to him about five times that first day.

If you're looking for a simple, easy to follow story for a toddler, then I highly recommend this book. I'll happily be buying more in this entertaining, well-written series.

This is my three-year-old daughter's favorite book. The complexity of the story is just right for her. She gets it and she loves it. Illustrations are bold and colorful and not too cutsy. One of our all-time favorite board books.

I love this book. As a dog owner having gone through this experience, I think I enjoy the book more than my son. The series is one that I would not want to do without!