The Night I Followed the Dog [Hardcover]

Nina Laden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1994 | Grade Level: P and up

"I have a dog. Nothing exotic or special, just an ordinary dog. In fact, I always thought he was a boring dog. What I mean is, he can fetch, roll over, and shake hands, but mostly he sleeps and eats."
Or so the little boy in this story thinks, until one morning when he opens the door a little early and sees his dog jump out of a limousine. That night he decides to follow his dog, and that's when the fun starts.
Before he knows it, he has entered the little known world of doggy glamour. His dog, distinctly reminiscent of Humphrey Bogart, treats him to a nighttime adventure where he learns where dogs go to relax and sees what they do while their masters are fast asleep. A terrific read aloud, Nina Laden's story will have everyone captivated by the coolest dog around.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Making an auspicious entry into children's books, Laden provides a stylish, droll answer to the riddle of what dogs do while their owners sleep. Her narrator is forced to revise his low opinion of the seemingly sedentary family pet ("I always thought he was a boring dog") after he spies the pooch alighting from a limousine early one morning, wearing a tuxedo. Tailing him that night, he discovers that the doghouse is in fact a well-appointed bachelor pad and his dog the owner of a spiffy canine nightclub, where dogs go to relax, get treats without having to lie down or play dead, and "talk about their problems with the mailman, or with the poodle next door." Skewed angles and perspectives and a mauve-and-midnight-blue palette ably capture the boy's disorientation, wonder and eventual admiration of his pet's jaunty after-hours persona. The art is at once broadly expressive and full of small, witty details (e.g., the limousine's vanity plate reads K-9). The visual playfulness extends even to the hand-lettered text, which is animated by such variations as inverted lettering for "roll over," chewed lettering for "hungry," and near-pictograms (the word "sit" rests on a chair). A salutary outing spun from a simple but rich idea. Ages 4-10.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4?"It's 10 p.m. Do you know where your dog is?" If not, join in this book's extraordinary suppositions. A young boy relates the events of "the night I followed my dog." A dull pet by day, the pup dons a tuxedo and tie after dark, climbs into his limo (vanity plate?K9), and goes to his club, The Doghouse. Bogart's got nothing on this pooch as he shows his young master, who has secretly tailed him, around the club. The crisp and colorful pastel drawings of the anthropomorphized clientele are amusing, but best of all is the frolicking text with several words per page decked out in appropriate illustrative (almost rebus) fashion. Sophisticated enough for older children and silly enough for younger listeners, this boy-and-his-dog book has a clever text, great illustrations, and strong appeal.?Jody McCoy, Casady School, Oklahoma City
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; First Edition edition (August 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811806472
• ISBN-13: 978-0811806473
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 10.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #128,865 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nina Laden grew up in the New York City area. She now lives in an old farmhouse in Seattle, which she renovated with her husband. She is the author and illustrator of many books for children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly conceived and executed-absolutely hilarious!, March 8, 2002

By 

David J. Gannon (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Night I Followed the Dog (Hardcover)

This is one of those rarities-a book where every single element is well conceived and brilliantly executed. The story is terrific, the illustrations are simply wonderful and event the text gets into the act artistically (the word bite drawn so that there are teeth marks outlining where a chunk of the text is missing, for example).

The story is also hilarious. One night a young man follows his dog-whom he regards as the most boring dog in the world-who's dressed in a tux, jumping into a limo and obviously ready for action. The dogs destination? A club for canines called-what else???--The Doghouse, a place where a fellow can relax and really let his ears down, so to speak.

A whimsical, hilarious book that the entire family can and will enjoy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even dogs need a place to unwind., September 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Night I Followed the Dog (Hardcover)

How do dogs unwind after a tough day of being the family pet? Why do dogs sleep so much during the day? Find out as one young child follows a hunch and follows his dog out into the night. A hilarious look inside the very secret life of the family pet.

Great illustrations and a fun narrative make this book a favorite at our house.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crepuscular Canine Capers, November 26, 2010

By 

Jason Kirkfield "The Pride and Sorrow of chil... (Purple Mountains Majesty) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Night I Followed the Dog (Hardcover)

This was author-illustrator Nina Laden's first book, and for some unknown reason it's the only one of hers we own. That should be remedied soon, but in the meantime, The Night I Followed the Dog has provided enjoyment through multiple readings over the years. There's lots of nice textures in the artwork, and Nina has also inserted graphic elements into the text itself.

This is a fun fantasy and a truly nice story of child-pet friendship. Five paws up!