Customer Reviews

Dominic (Sunburst Book)

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William Steig's tale (or tail) of an adventurous, great-hearted dog exploring the world with zest and delight is NOT just for children -- although children lucky enough to read it will carry it with them into adulthood, as shown by previous reviews. I first read it in my late 30's, and I knew at once that it had as much depth, wisdom, and beauty as any adult book -- more than most, in fact. You'll come away from it filled with its joy for life. Very highly recommended!

I was given this book by my brother almost 25 years ago, and I still consider it the best children's book I've ever read. In fact, I still pull it out from time to time and read it when I need a lift. I love the fact that Steig respects children enough to use sophisticated language and themes. This book has always made me feel smart and brave--just like Dominic himself! He is a wonderful hero and role model for boys and girls alike. It's a joy to read that so many others have also been touched by its magic. And the illustrations (by Steig) are incredibly evocative--they really draw one into Dominic's adventures AND his emotions. It doens't get any better than Dominic for bright, curious kids.

Dominic is one of the greatest works by one of the two greatest children's authors (I consider Lloyd Alexander the other). Dominic is a great character and it is marvelous to read of his picaresque adventures. The novel also has a lot of depth in it.

The novel follows Dominic who is a dog. He begins to feel restless one day and sets out on the road for adventure. Dominic constantly uses his many talents and wits during the trip. In his adventures Dominic finds treasure, a little love, the horrid Doomesday Gang, and, eventually, himself.

William Steig always conveys a clear message in his novels. He writes about how to love life and everything about life. He writes great pathetic falacies (descriptions of nature). He writes of love for fellow beings. Steig also addresses important facets of life. My favorite part of Dominic is when Dominic has to deal with the death of a friend. Steig writes:

"He (Dominic) had to cry. Life was suddenly too sad. And yet it was beautiful. The beauty was dimmed when the sadness welled up. And the beauty would be there again when the sadness went. So the beauty and the sadness belonged together somehow, though they were not the same at all."

Steig's prose is always as marvelous and as meaningful. Few novelists of any genre have had the success that Steig has in Dominic. All children and many adults should read this book. (Also, read Steig's Abel's Island and The Real Thief.)

I read this when I was eight years old. I am now 22 and I still think that Dominic is one of the best books that anyone could ever read. It got me excited about reading and I haven't stopped since. This simple tale of a dog leaving home for adventures throughout the world has opened the world up for me. It taught me that there is more to life than what I see around me and that even walking to the end of the block can be an adventure. Dominic the character is a hero to me, and the book (which I still find myself reading from time to time) is still one of my favorites.

This is one of the most amazing books I have ever encountered. William Steig creates a world to lose yourself in with evil foxes, charming geese, complex characters galore, and of course, our favorite dog of all time, Dominic himself. Perhaps the best part about Dominic is its sense of the mystery and wonder of life, of the importance of making good choices and the opportunities offered by taking the path less traveled. I absolutely fell in love with this book- it's a tale of wonder, excitement, chases, escapes, and doing the right thing. Dominic truly has a "heart of gold with nerves of steel," and he is so noble and young and brave and truthful that you wish you could leap right into the pages and help him out whenever the Doomsday Gang tries another attack. It's a truly amazing and touching read- I still get choked up when I read it sometimes.

"Dominic" was my favorite book as a child. It is amagical, yet solemn story that meditates on more complicated issuesthan most "adult" books ever do. Death, life, joy, sorrow, tough choices, loss, wonder and love are all encountered by the wonderful Dominic on his journey. I always finish "Dominic" feeling slightly sad, but very renewed. The one metaphor that comes to mind when I think of this book is "leaving home". When you leave home for the first time, you feel a sense of sadness and loss, but you also feel excited and curious about the new things you will see. Dominic's journey is a microcosm of this experience. The story is written tenderly, yet it sheds most trappings of sentimentality. Dominic moves on and on through his world, and he accepts that the only way to be happy is to loosen attachments to the past, even as you learn from them, and move with confidence into the future.

At 22, Dominic remains one of my top three most treasured books of all time. It is transforming but subtly and simply -- like opening your eyes in the morning. There is nothing chirpy about it, nothing preachy, and yet you find yourself calmer, happier, more in tune with life while reading it -- and the effects last. ^_^ My little brother, who has ADHD, begged me to read it to him every night. It is one of the few books I brought with me when I studied abroad. Magic, adventure, romance, philosophy, friendship and a dozen other good things -- Dominic is a good blueplan for life.

My father bought a copy of Dominic for me when I was six years old. Each night at bedtime he would read a chapter (sometimes 3 or 4) to me, complete with distinctive voices for each of the book's delightful characters. I was, to say the least, enchanted. We must have read the book dozens of times.

I never have thought Dominic to be a "boy's book" -- rather, it helps to reinforce the tenet that anyone (boy or girl) can do anything: topple bad guys like the Doomsday Gang, and find precious friends, treasure, and adventure. All it takes is an adventurous spirit (a willingness to take the road to adventure), and a few belongings wrapped in a bandana and slung over your shoulder on a lovely piccolo.

Dominic by William Steig
Reviewed by Julia

At first I thought Dominic was going to be a boring book about a dog. I also thought it was going to be sad. I thought that because on the cover it looked like a dog that had lost his way. However, when I read the first page about Dominic, the lead character, who wants to have fun and adventure, I thought this would be exciting to read. Every animal that Dominic meets along the way has a problem. The Doomsday Gang is the villains who try to ruin everyone's fun. While there are many main characters, the most important ones are Dominic, Barney Swain, and Bartholomew Badger. The first animal Dominic meets, the Alligator Witch, is a fortune teller who gives him a spear that will help him along the way. Next, Dominic meets Bartholomew Badger, a pig, who is rich, old, and ill. Dominic makes friends and takes care of him. Bartholomew Badger gives him all his riches when he dies. Dominic isn't sure if he wants all those riches since the Doomsday G ang keeps trying to steal them. Barney Swain has the biggest problem of them all. He is robbed by the Doomsday Gang of the money he was going to use for his wedding. Dominic gives him some of the riches and they become good friends. Dominic helps so many animals that don't have what he has. He was a one "dog" community service volunteer.

I love this book not only because it is exciting and has adventure, but also it is about friendship. My favorite part of the book is the ending. I won't tell everyone what happens but: Matilda Fox (who is a goose!) will never forget how brave Dominic is. Mwana Bhomba, the magician and elephant, can't remember how he got here from Africa. The way Dominic helps him is really funny. Anyone who likes animals and comedy should definitely read this book. As people can tell, these animals act like silly people. The author has a great imagination. This book is sad and a little scary but this is a great summer camp book.

Throughout my life, I'd always remembered the "first book I ever read" as about some dog who played the piccolo and traveled around with his possessions in a sack on a stick. I remembered it so fondly, like one of those few, golden memories you hold onto from childhood, when you still believed in the tooth faerie and unicorns.

I never remembered the title, though, and the book had long since disappeared from my parent's house. One day I did an extensive Google search with only the words "dog," "piccolo" and "traveler" and managed to stumble across William Steig's website.

I just bought myself a new copy of "the first book I ever read" and can't wait to read it again. It really is a book that has stayed with me my entire life. I just found it astonishing that so many other people wrote the exact same thing in their reviews. How can it be that one book has been the "first book" for so many people? I don't know, but I do know that if you can let it be your kid's first book, they will cherish it forever. I sure did.