Dogs Don'T Wear Sneakers [Hardcover]

Laura Numeroff (Author), Joe Mathieu (Illustrator)

Book Description

Dogs don't wear sneakers;
And pigs don't wear hats
And dresses look silly
On Siamese cats.

So goes Laura Numeroff's lively laugh-along text that explores the many ways in which you and I differ from our furred, feathered and finny friends.

Joe Mathieu's hilarious illustrations bring all the unlikely creatures to life in this book that challenges the reader to dream up more characters for this delightful menagerie.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite the catchy canine title, Numeroff and Mathieu's picture book is not about Man's Best Friends. Rather, the author and illustrator work together to pull off what could be the antithesis of a nonsense rhyme--a verse that derives its kid-appeal by its apparent sensibleness. But as the text intones various truths ("Dogs don't wear sneakers / And pigs don't wear hats / And dresses look silly / On Siamese cats), the illustrations serve up irreverent contradictions: a pack of well-shod pooches prances its way through a "Dog Days Marathon"; the aforesaid pigs and cats don lavish costumes for a production of "The Pigs of Penzance." One particularly frolicsome scene ("Fish don't eat bagels") shows a pair of hatted fish perched on stools at an underwater diner, one in the process of "schmearing" his bagel. Mathieu's exuberant art sets off Numeroff's neatly veiled silliness. Good goofy fun. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K-A jaunty, rhymed text provides a litany of unlikely scenarios- sheep in the shower, hens in the swimming pool-some of which work better than others. It's Mathieu's wacky and inventive illustrations that really carry the show. His expressive animals lift weights, dangle off diving boards, and cavort in a variety of crazy outfits. Kids will enjoy the silliness, even if the book isn't as much fun as John Cameron's If Mice Could Fly (Atheneum, 1979; o.p.). Teachers will appreciate the final page, which invites readers to "tell me what you see," making the title a spirited springboard for creative activities. Useful, but not especially memorable.
Lori A. Janick, Parkwood Elementary School, Pasadena, TX
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (August 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671795252
• ISBN-13: 978-0671795252
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Nonsense!, July 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dogs Don'T Wear Sneakers (Hardcover)

Laura Joffe Numeroff has a flair for the ridiculous. This charming tale gives the reader a serious case of the giggles from beginning to end. The illustrations are priceless as well. You will read this one again and again!

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars gorgeous book, September 26, 2000

By 

NotATameLion (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dogs Don'T Wear Sneakers (Hardcover)

Dogs Don't Wear Sneakers is a gorgeous book. It is a series of ridiculous juxtapositions; my favorite of which being the wonderful illustration for "goats never shave." The pictures for "Moose don't go bowling" and "Fish don't eat bagels" made me laugh.

My wife (who is very practical) says that the book is "useful" because after you read the book to a child, you can then give them a sheet that says something like: --blank-- don't wear --blank--. The child may then fill in the blanks and draw their own ridiculous picture-thereby expanding their imagination.

Underhanded schemes and ulterior motives aside, this book is cute; and worth a look.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A WONDERFUL book by a great author, October 2, 2003

By 

Sussya "Lab Enthusiast" (Southern United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dogs Don't Wear Sneakers (Paperback)

My kids love Laura Numeroff books anyway, but this has to be one of their all time favorites. My two-year-old quotes this book all the time, and if we ever want to make her laugh, we just recite a few verses. It is perfect for bedtime, and one that definitely belongs in every child's library. The illustrations are wonderful, too.