I Wish My Brother Was a Dog [Hardcover]

Carol Diggory Shields (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

An older brother, sick of a little brother who follows him everywhere and topples his blocks, dreams that the little brother turns into a dog and chases frisbees, eats out of a special bowl, and goes to the vet."

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2. A young narrator conjures up various scenarios of what it would be like if his baby brother were a dog. Among other things, Andy could guard the house, play Frisbee, and stay in a little house "way, way out in the backyard." While the ideas are clever, the narrative is a bit understated and belabored. What saves this title are the sparkling illustrations that add life to the text?seeing a baby peeing side-legged into the flowers is a lot funnier than hearing, "Just think, Andy, if you were a dog, no more stinky diapers." From the overall inventiveness of the artist's vision to the humorous details added to each page, readers will be caught up in the fantasy. Using pen-and-ink and watercolor, the artist draws scenes with a light touch that adds to a feeling of free-spirited abandonment of the rules of proper behavior. While the boy may at the end be willing to keep his brother and treat him as such, it's hard to believe his active imagination will be contained for too long. This book could well spark some creative pretending in classrooms and among individual listeners.?Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4-8. In a furious fantasy, a boy imagines that his cute baby brother, Andy, is a dog, a pet that can be controlled and trained never, never, never to touch the boy's toys again. Cartoon pictures in line and watercolor show the beatific baby made to act as watchdog, locked up behind the fence while the older boy and Mom go out all by themselves. The fantasies get more and more vengeful. Baby Andy eats from a dog bowl on the floor. He could be put outside to sleep. If he gets sick, the vet could give him a shot with a huge hypodermic. He could win a prize at a dog show, and somebody might buy him, and then things would be real peaceful around the house . . . too peaceful. There is a dual satisfaction in the turnaround: children can enjoy seeing the sibling rivalry carried to ludicrous extremes; at the same time, there's the comfort that in the end the boy wants his brother around after all. Kids will laugh at the unbridled anger of the older sibling, as well as at the sweet innocence of the baby, who doesn't know his own strength. Hazel Rochman

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525454640
• ISBN-13: 978-0525454649
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,407,756 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too Cute!, December 4, 2001

By 

Brandy Thomas (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Wish My Brother Was a Dog (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

I think this book is very well illustrated and extremely funny. It's going to be a family favorite!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!, August 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: I Wish My Brother Was a Dog (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

I love this book! We read it to our four-year-old boys and they think it is most amusing. Also, there are lots of bonuses for parents that the kids don't necessarily catch but are very enjoyable. A clever, terrific book with a tiny bit of an edge. Very entertaining!

5.0 out of 5 stars as expected..., May 12, 2010

By 

science geek (Greenville, NC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: I Wish My Brother Was a Dog (Hardcover)

Loved this book since I first read it at my nephews house. Now out of print, so wanted to get copy while I still could. Seller described book quality status accurately.