From Publishers Weekly
Twenty years after making his debut in
Good Dog, Carl, the Rottweiler who has charmed a generation of readers has lost none of his appeal—or his spunk. Here Madeleine's mother tells Carl that she and her daughter are going shopping so he "can have a nice nap." Not likely. When the driver of a thrift-shop van arrives to pick up donated items, Carl helps him load the goods and then jumps into the back of the vehicle, scooting out at a bakery where Madeleine and her mother have stopped. The cherubic tot gleefully spots Carl through the window and surreptitiously feeds him a cookie after he slips inside. The canine hero helps a pharmacist by delivering medicine to a vet, again meets up with Madeleine at a flower stand (where he purloins a bloom and places it in a woman's shopping bag) and rescues puppies from a burning garage. The dog arrives at home, just ahead of his owners. As in past Carl tales, Day injects wry, child-pleasing flourishes: for instance, Carl's appearances go undetected by Madeleine's mother. Playing the key role in relaying the action, Day's stunningly realistic, brightly hued illustrations are as timeless and endearing as the plot. Carl fans young and old will cheer his return as they discover that this anything-but-sleepy canine is aging very well indeed. All ages.
(Oct.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1–That lovable canine and his adorable preschool companion return in another winsome picture book. As the story opens, the pup is supposed to stay home for an afternoon nap while Madeleine and her mother go shopping. Instead, the dog hitches a ride on a thrift-shop truck and jumps out in front of a bakery where Madeleine and her mom are buying sweets. Without Mom noticing, Carl enters the store and Madeleine feeds him a cookie. He then heads for the pharmacy, where he's enlisted to deliver a prescription to the vet. With his errand successfully completed, he continues on and winds up participating in an outdoor magic show and rescuing a dog and her puppies from a fire. He even stops in front of a bookstore with a poster mounted in the window–advertising a Carl book. The entertaining story is told through the gently detailed, warmly realistic paintings. There's a bit more text here than in previous books, but it flows well with the illustrations. This is a must-read for fans, and it stands well on its own.
–Lynn K. Vanca, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Richfield, OH Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
