Woof! (Puffin Modern Classics) [Paperback]

Allan Ahlberg (Author)

Book Description

Series: Puffin Modern Classics | Publication Date: June 1999

Eric is a perfectly ordinary boy - perfectly ordinary, that is, until the night he turns into a dog! This is the story of his adventures with his best friend, Roy, and their efforts to puzzle out the reason for his transformation.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6 One morning, for no apparent reason, ten-year-old Eric Banks turns into a Norfolk terrier. This causes no end of problems for Eric, as his parents shoo him out of the house and he must fend for himself on the streets. Fortunately, the change is only temporary; he soon turns back into a boy, but he never knows when or where he will change into a dog again. Naturally, the changes occur at the most inconvenient times, and only Eric's best chum, Roy, knows what is going on. Skeptical at first, Roy soon joins Eric in trying to puzzle out what is causing the mysterious transformations. The problem is that the solution is never givenan unfair ending that is sure to annoy readers who have been hooked by the curious premise. This British import is told in an understated manner with delightfully quiet, tongue-in-cheek humor, particularly when Eric begins to think and act like a dog, all the while analyzing his reactions in a thoroughly boy-like way. A bit slow in spots, but the book can provide a nice source for those seeking longeralbeit frustratingread-aloud material. Kathleen Brachmann, Highland Park Public Lib . , Ill.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Allan Ahlberg, former teacher, postman, plumber's mate and gravedigger, is in the super-league of children's writers. He has published over a hundred children's books and is the author of the prize-winning Each Peach Pear Plum and The Jolly Postman. He has also written prize-winning fiction and poems for older readers. Allan lives in Bath. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Penguin UK (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140386696
• ISBN-13: 978-0140386691
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,793,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Woof!: A captivating, timeless classic, January 28, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Granby, Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Woof! (Hardcover)

When I first read the book Woof! by Alan Ahlberg, I loved it. I was eight years old at the time, living in England, and the book was a Book Club special at school. It was a very popular book at that time and it was later followed by a TV show which I also enjoyed. I think the main reason I enjoyed the book so much is because of the simple idea that you can become a dog, have an adventure in your own town, do whatever you wanted for anyone, and still be able to get away with it while saving the day in the end. I get it out every now and again to read it just to bring back the days of childhood innocence and dreams. This book is certainly a dream maker. I get excited even now at the age of 17 to think about being able to be a dog and do all the things Eric does in the book. The end of the story provides a catch too which should appeal more to an older reader. Woof! is an extraordinary book, even 13 years after its release. I can't wait for my children to read it.