Customer Reviews

Not My Dog

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"Not My Dog"
by Colby Rodowsky
(Farrar, Strauss Giroux, 1999)
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A sweet, well-measured book about a young girl named Ellie who has long dreamt of getting a cuddly little puppy, but is upset when her parents bring home an older, scruffier rescue dog instead. Ellie sulks and refuses to call the poor pooch "her" dog, even as she is slowly won over and comes to love him as much as she would have loved a pup. The writing is nice, as the language subtly shifts from chapter to chapter, reflecting the changes in Ellie's attitude towards the new dog. A nice, quiet book about pet ownership and adoption. Recommended. (Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain book reviews)

"Not my Dog" is not great literature, but it is a darling story. All adults and most children have at some time wanted something so badly that any substitute falls short. Ellie wanted a puppy and when the family took Great-aunt Margaret's dog because she could not have him in her new apartment, Ellie was broken hearted and knew in her heart that Preston would never be her dog. But as happens, Preston turned out to be special.

This is a heart warming story about a girl who REALLY wants a dog and her feelings when a "hand-me-down" dog joins the family. The girls emotions are true to life and the ending is quite appropriate for the storyline. Teachers and librarians should have this book available for students in grades 1 through 4.