  | Bad dog (I Like To Read) Author: McPhail, David | |
| Price: $16.39 | ||
Summary:
Sometimes, Tom is a bad dog. But he can be good, too! His family loves him no matter what.
Download a Teacher's Guide
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: .70 Points: .5 Quiz: 166008 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (02/15/14)
School Library Journal (03/01/14)
Booklist (03/15/14)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 03/01/2014 PreS-Gr 1—Clear, direct text focuses on Tom's many shortcomings. The pup yanks the turkey dinner off the table, knocks over the TV stand during Dad's football game, and urinates near Mom's prized sunflowers. Dialogue bubbles emphasize the family's response to the canine. As the annoyed father scratches his own leg, he says, "FLEAS! Bad dog, Tom!" However, when Tom saves the day after the cat goes missing, he gains a sense of belonging within his home. There's not a lot of fluidity to the movement of the characters, but the soft illustrations emphasize their natural reactions. Pen-and-ink and watercolor spreads set against spare backgrounds focus on Tom's interactions with each person. The repetitive text and large font enhance this selection for children just learning to read independently, and the message is always clear: "Tom is my dog./I love him when he is good./And I love him when he is bad." For all his naughty habits, Tom remains a cherished, four-legged member of his family.—Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 03/15/2014 The children love Tom, their dog. However, Tom’s “dog tendencies”—from bringing in fleas to tipping over the garbage—are getting on the adults’ nerves. He must go! Redemption comes in the form of Tom’s ingenuity finding the cat, and his family-member status is saved—at least for the time being. McPhail gives emerging readers a story told in both repetitive text and supportive illustrations. Speech balloons separate the narrative from dialogue. Part of the I Like to Read series, the book provides simple rhyming and sight words that are repeated throughout. Humor abounds in the large watercolor illustrations that aptly show Tom’s exceeding badness, including pulling the tablecloth from a food-laden table and knocking over the big-screen TV. Readers may also make an emotional connection to a beloved pet as they witness the unconditional love the children have for their “bad” dog. - Copyright 2014 Booklist.
