From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1–Stuck in the same backyard day after day, Stanley the dog is bored. Then, he finds a small hole by the fence. Imagine his surprise when, after a long day of digging, he finds himself on the other side, with no leash and no person. He rounds up his canine friends, and they enjoy a night on the town. While admiring the view from a hill, Stanley sees an unfamiliar object. He investigates (it smells like feet) and accidentally takes a wild ride on a skateboard, followed by his pals, who have found assorted vehicles of their own. The adventure ends at Stanley's yard, where he is reunited with his people, who taste sleepy. The story builds slowly, but the ride is worth the wait. The text is smart, comic, and a rollicking good time. Although Stanley and his friends talk to one another, they never lose their essential dogginess: garbage is for eating, cats for chasing, fences for escaping, and everything is for sniffing. Even the ride captures a pup's point of view as he roars down the hill faster than a squirrel! Good pacing builds anticipation at each page turn, and the textured acrylic cartoon illustrations capture the story's energy and humor. Clever details punctuate the art, and the dogs' bodies and faces reflect their joy and excitement. An appealing companion to
Stanley's Party (Kids Can, 2003).
–Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PreS-Gr. 2. Tired of the same old yard and the same old routine, Stanley, the good-time hound who starred in
Stanley's Party (2003), longs for something new. Then he discovers a "weensy" hole near the fence, and he quickly digs himself to the freedom of the open street. After liberating his pals from their respective yards, Stanley and his pack of overjoyed mutts experience "the kind of fun you can't find in a yard": peeing on fancy cars, chasing cats, savoring garbage. The biggest thrills come after the group finds a collection of wheeled delights--a skateboard, a tricycle, a shopping cart--but the fun comes to a crashing halt when the police get involved, convincing Stanley that maybe the backyard isn't so bad after all. Slavin's whimsical, detailed, textured acrylics capture the exuberant action and humor and create charming canine characters--from wee but tough Nutsy the Chihuahua to bloated bulldog Gassy Jack. Try this well-paced, energetic story with restless young listeners who, like Stanley, feel a bit penned in.
Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved