A Dog's Gotta Do What a Dog's Gotta Do: Dogs at Work [Hardcover]

Marilyn Singer (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up

A fascinating look at the work that dogs do, from herding sheep to rescuing lost and injured people.

One day last year Gus caught a burglar.
Bruno saved a man from drowning.
Abby cheered up sick children at a hospital.
Max starred in a movie.
Hard-working people? No. Hard-working dogs!

Every dog is born with the ability to do a particular job. Centuries ago, people recognized these natural talents and began using dogs to help them with a variety of chores. Whether hunting and pulling sleds or performing before royalty, these beloved animals have been important workers as well as faithful friends.

Best-selling author Marilyn Singer gives young readers an exciting introduction to the many kinds of work that dogs do. This is the ultimate dog book -- a thrilling combination of natural history and the true tales of canine heroes who were just doing their jobs.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 2-5-Looking at the historical role of dogs as helpers from ancient Egypt to the present day, Singer goes beyond the typical canine occupations and includes frequently overlooked specialties such as entertainers and mascots. Even the public-relations duties taken on by presidents' pets are covered. Each short chapter highlights the particular abilities of a group of canines (e.g., hunting dogs, guard dogs, scenting dogs) and then gives interesting details about their duties. Brief anecdotes introduce individual pooches that became famous for doing their job well. For example, Stubby, a bull terrier-boxer mix, received numerous medals and was made an honorary sergeant after World War I, and Balto, a sled dog, was honored for his role in delivering medicine during an outbreak of diphtheria in Alaska in 1925. Singer's spirited writing enlivens the material, relaying her passion for these animals. Unfortunately, the black-and-white photographs are small, and they won't draw readers to the book. Still, the lively treatment makes this a worthwhile addition to pet collections.-Steve Clancy, Colonial Village Elementary School, Niagara Falls, NY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-6. Dog lovers will appreciate this readable, informative look at canines and the work they do, which introduces dogs as defenders, herders, detectives, rescuers, and entertainers. A brief history of dogs and their work history begins the book. The chapters that follow are arranged by "career," with a vignette about a particular dog beginning each one. Readers will learn why particular breeds excel at their tasks, how they are trained, and the different ways a breed can use its talents. For instance, dogs with an excellent sense of smell include bloodhounds; Newfoundlands and Saint Bernards are rescue dogs; and beagles search for contraband. Some dogs can even detect cancer by sniffing moles. The text is crisp and engaging, but the black-and- white photos are a disappointment--small and sometimes too dark. Still, the subject is intriguing enough to make up for some of the design flaws. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1st edition (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080506074X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805060744
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,221,246 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marilyn Singer was born in the Bronx (New York City) on October 3, 1948 and lived most of her early life in N. Massapequa (Long Island), NY. She attended Queens College, City University of New York, and for her junior year, Reading University, England. She holds a B.A. in English from Queens and an M.A. in Communications from New York University.

In 1974, after teaching English in New York City high schools for several years, she began to write - initially film notes, catalogues, teacher's guides, and film strips. Then, one day, when she was sitting in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she penned a story featuring talking insect characters she'd made up when she was eight. Encouraged by the responses she got, she wrote more stories, and in 1976, her first book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't, was published by E.P.Dutton & Co.

Since then, Marilyn has published over eighty books for children and young adults. Her genres are many and varied, including realistic novels, fantasies, non-fiction, fairy tales, picture books, mysteries and poetry. She likes writing many different kinds of books because it's challenging and it keeps her from getting bored.

Marilyn currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband Steve; their standard poodle Oggi, seen in the home page photo; a cat named August ; two collared doves named Jubilee and Holiday; and a starling that says, "Hi. How are you? Sweet Birdie. Okay!" Her interests include ballroom/Latin dancing, dog training, reading, hiking, bird-watching, gardening, playing computer adventure games, and going to the movies and the theatre. She's also a major Star Trek fan.

Marilyn is the former host of the AOL Children's Writers Chat and currently co-hosts the Poetry Blast at various conferences. Visit her web site: www.marilynsinger.net.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Love dogs, August 2, 2010

By 

Christena L. Kaufman (South Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Dog's Gotta Do What a Dog's Gotta Do: Dogs at Work (Hardcover)

Being a doglover, I buy lots of dog related books. I thoroughly enjoed this one.

Great transaction with seller, also.

4.0 out of 5 stars good non fiction for elementary readers, July 18, 2009

By 

reader mother (TN United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Dog's Gotta Do What a Dog's Gotta Do: Dogs at Work (Hardcover)

my 9 & 10 yr old 4th grade daughter's school reading contract required her to read a specific # of both fiction & non fiction bks @ her particular reading level, & then pass Accelerated Reader (AR) tests on vocabulary & content; most girls gravitate naturally toward fiction & are less drawn to non fiction; this is true w/my daughter; libraries @ both elementary schools she attended PreK - 4th grade had much wider fiction selections than non fiction; aside from biographies, non fiction tended to be dry science & nature topics that were less than captivating; biography series for kids abound & plenty are good, but multiple series cover the same basic group of people; I found the bk whilst searching for more unique non fiction; this was a welcome change, as it entertained & informed, rather than put us to sleep; short & easy to read, but informative & kid friendly; subject matter would appeal to both girls & boys of elementary school age

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dogs At Work, November 18, 2007

By 

A. D. Cox (northern PA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Dog's Gotta Do What a Dog's Gotta Do: Dogs at Work (Hardcover)

Great book about dogs and the job they do.

Author of "Hobo Finds A Home"