Watchdog and the Coyotes [Hardcover]

Bill Wallace (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

Trying to rescind his reputation as a disagreeable sort after a series of dissatisfied masters and a stint in the pound, Sweetie the Great Dane demonstrates his good nature to a burglar, a pack of coyotes, and hostile neighbor dogs.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6?Wallace applies his love of animals and sense of humor to yet another successful story. Sweetie, a Great Dane, is on his third owner?his warm-hearted efforts at protection have been misinterpreted by his previous masters. Now he is paranoid about making a mistake for fear of being sent to the pound. Red and Poky, two neighboring dogs, listen to his story with empathy, offering him consolation and bolstering his self-esteem. All seems to be going smoothly until the coyotes arrive from the Arizona desert. They bully the three companions, stealing their food, sleeping in their dog houses, and threatening them with bodily harm. Sweetie takes charge and leads the dogs in training, which culminates in a final victory over the thieving scoundrels. Sweetie, Red, and Poky display their own distinct personalities through their dialogue and actions. The lively scenes depicted in the black-and-white illustrations reflect the upbeat tone of Wallace's writing. Using the popular theme of the weak overcoming the seemingly more powerful, the author has created a fast-paced, descriptive novel suitable for reading aloud or independently. Even reluctant readers will be tempted to finish this book.?Cheryl Cufari, N.A. Walbran Elementary School, Oriskany, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-5. Sweetie is a Great Dane, an enormous dog so afraid of being dubbed a bully because of his gargantuan dimensions that he is overly gentle. So horrified is Sweetie by the thought of barking--or even worse, of biting--that at the book's beginning, he watches with a wagging tail as his master's house is robbed. It is a different Sweetie, however, who greets the same cocky burglar when he returns at book's end. In between these two episodes, the timid Great Dane is befriended by his neighbors, an aged and arthritic Irish setter and a small but feisty beagle. It is these two pals who teach Sweetie that he is not being a bully if he fights to protect himself or his friends. And it is in defense of himself and his two neighbors that he fends off a pack of greedy and hungry coyotes in an amusing and exciting brawl that wins Sweetie his self-esteem and identity in this light read with a message. Ellen Mandel

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671536206
• ISBN-13: 978-0671536206
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,957,953 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great story with a powerful message, December 17, 2000

By 

Joe Buchberger (Tampa, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Watchdog and the Coyotes (Paperback)

My 10 year old daughter offered me this book to read while she read one of her favorites last week during our reading hour and I must say that I loved it! It's a great story of friendship and values, and of finding the bravery to stand up for what is right and to fight to protect what is yours and those you love.

I recommend this book to all daddy's and their little girls, and to everyone else who can take the time to sit down with a good book and enjoy a well written story.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book of the Year, July 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Watchdog and the Coyotes (Paperback)

If there were an award for funniest animal actor, Sweetie would win. Sweetie is afraid to bite because she is afraid of the pound. However, some coyotes get into Poky the beagle's yard and eat his food, and take his favorite bone. If he could, Pokey would fight them off, but the only one who can save his yard is sweety, but Sweetie doesn't want to, because she is afraid. The last straw is when Red gets the coyote treatment. This old Irish Setter is too old to do anything. Nightly, the coyote's come with larger and larger numbers. Will Sweetie let the coyotes keep coming, and come into her own yard, or will she do something? You will have to read the book to find out.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Job Bill Wallace!, April 10, 2000

By 

3rd Graders, Salk Elementary, Tulsa, OK (Tulsa, Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Watchdog and the Coyotes (Paperback)

We highly recommend this dog lover's story. If you want to be in a dog's world then you should read this great book. This is an awesome dog tail (ha, ha) of bravery shown by a dog named Sweetie and his fearless friends. No doubt you should go find this in a library or bookstore near you. Great work Bill Wallace!