Strange And Wonderful Tale Of Robert Mcdoodle: The Boy Who Wanted To Be A Dog [Hardcover]

Steven Bauer (Author), Brad Sneed (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

Young Robert McDoodle thinks that his parents plan to give him a new shirt for his sixth birthday, so he decides to go to obedience school to learn how to be a dog.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-As Robert's sixth birthday approaches, he discovers that his parents are planning to give him clothes for a present. Coupled with the knowledge that this September he'll have to start school, the little boy decides to follow his dreams: he wants to be "the World's First Human Pup." A local dog tells him about the Jellicoe Obedience School run by a large German shepherd. After a year of learning doggie etiquette, the finer points of digging, drinking from the toilet, and territory marking, Robert changes his mind. Surprise-his furry classmates throw him a party, his parents attend and give him a puppy for his seventh birthday, and everyone lives happily ever after. With the appeal of transformation, rhyming texts that tantalize the ear, and quality illustrations, it's hard to go wrong. Sneed's wonderful watercolors expand the text with warmth and wit. The picture of Robert (aka Spot) contemplating a toilet bowl guarantees audience appeal. Bauer's poetic flare is undeniable. Perhaps one could quibble with Spot's difficulty in marking territory standing on one leg-certainly he had better options, but let the kids figure that out. A long but entertaining read-aloud that's sure to generate lots of thought and as much discussion as any parent, teacher, or librarian can handle.
Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Many boys may want to be astronauts or policemen when they grow up, but Robert has different ideas. The same applies to his upcoming birthday. He doesn't want the shoes, the shirt, or the socks he finds wrapped beneath his parents' bed. It's a dog's life he longs for, and feeling misunderstood, he runs away. He thinks he's finally on his way to fulfilling his secret ambition when he enrolls in a dog school. Although he's a fast learner, doubts creep in. Does he really want to lap from the toilet bowl or be 42 in dog years instead of just 6? This is an immensely appealing farce, impeccably childlike in its logic, with illustrations that beautifully exaggerate the absurdity of the tale. And the ending is just right: when Robert finally goes home, he finds a tail-wagging, face-licking birthday present waiting for him. Shelley Townsend-Hudson

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689806191
• ISBN-13: 978-0689806193
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,599,888 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wanna be a dog! I wanna wag my tail!, September 26, 2000

By 

Timothy Capehart "Review-a-holic" (Dayton, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strange And Wonderful Tale Of Robert Mcdoodle: The Boy Who Wanted To Be A Dog (Hardcover)

What a beautiful (and hysterical) book. As a children's librarian, I read a LOT of children's books (most not this much fun). On the giggles scale (the bottom of which is Ivanhoe & the top of which is Captain Underpants) this is a solid Captain Underpants. What first or second grader when faced with a day of school hasn't dreamed of the care-free life of the family dog? Robert McDoodle being no ordinary 5 (almost 6) year old DOES something about attaining that goal. But at Jellicoe Dog School he finds out there's more to being the first Human Pup than chasing sticks and digging in the dirt. The watercolor illustrations are full of energy and a perfect match for the inspired story. My storytimers (K to 3rd grade) love it. I'm sure yours will too (even if they aren't dog people)! Perfect for storytimes when coupled with the song quoted in the title of my review!