No Dogs Allowed

Ready, Set, Dogs! #1

by Stephanie Calmenson, Joanna Cole, Heather Ross (Illustrations)

Kate and Lucie are best friends. Kate is neat and Lucie is messy. Kate wakes up early and Lucie loves to sleep in. But both girls love, love, love dogs! Unfortunately, Kate and Lucie live in apartments where dogs are not allowed. Instead of real dogs, they have dog T-shirts, dog sheets and pajamas, and dog books. But nothing is quite the same as having a real dog. One day, the girls discover sparkly pink dog necklaces at the thrift store and try them on. But when they admire themselves in the mirror and give each other high fives, there is a pop and a whoosh and the girls are turned into dogs! Now it seems like Kate and Lucie won't need their own pet dogs . . . because they'll be having furry adventures of their own!

Genres: Fantasy, Animals, Juvenile, Chapter Books, Dogs, Humor, School

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Stephanie Calmenson's many popular titles include concept books, funny school stories, poetry collections, books about dogs and, with Magic School Bus author Joanna Cole, anthologies and beginning reader chapter books.

Stephanie's books have been called "marvelous" (PW), "lyrical" (SLJ), "hilarious" (SLJ), "sweet, funny, and right on the mark" (Booklist).

Before turning to writing, Stephanie was a teacher, a children's book editor, and Editorial Director of Parents Magazine's Read-Aloud Book Club.

Website: my link text

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate and Lucie are dog obsessed best friends who live in an apartment complex that doesn’t allow dogs.
One day they find a pair of *magical* dog bone necklaces at a thrift store. When they bark and high five, they turn into doggy versions of themselves.

Hijinks ensue, but nothing bad. Cute story for dog-loving kids. It’s a little too long and hard for an easy chapter, but a good next step for sure.

[Astrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son really liked this book. The story moves quickly, with lots of dialogue. I like that it depicts characters who are helping dogs.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look, I’m sorry. I know it’s not a 4/5 stars, but it is in my HEART, ok?!?

[Elizabeth Moreau Nicolai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly cute beginning chapter book. Very fun and easy to book talk to kids. Two girls are obsessed with dogs but live in a no dogs allowed apartment building (they're neighbors). The fun begins when they find matching necklaces in a thrift shop that turn them into dogs! Full review to come on my blog.

[Tara Ethridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever on the hunt for books for those diving into longer books, this is a cute one, albeit silly. Two girls are obsessed with dogs but can't have them in their apartment. When they find two dog bone necklaces one day at a thrift shop, they discover they can turn themselves into dogs. They go back and forth and it's pretty cute reading about them loving being dogs.

[Ellen Zarate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun chapter book for elementary kids who love animals and magic--yep, lots of kids will enjoy! When girl friends unlock magic that lets them turn into dogs, they have fun and build stronger friendships with two boys and together they all work to win a contest.

[Elizabeth Tyree · Rating 4 out of 5]

my daughter LOVED this book

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. Not very complicate plot or characters.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 3 out of 5]

2/22/2021 ~ An adequate early chapter book. Will appeal to kids who love dogs & would enjoy being one.

[Elsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it! This is the first chapter book that sissy read to herself!

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny!

[Daniel Middleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Farber and Lucie Lopez live in the same apartment building—a rare treat for two best friends who share a love for dogs—only the building they live in does not allow them to have dogs, hence the book's title. It's Adopt-a-Dog Week and a local radio station is hosting a song-writing contest to spur listeners to get people to adopt dogs from the Tuckertown Shelter; a task the girls are eager to take up. While they are complete opposites (one is messy, the other tidy; while one loves to sleep in while the other is usually up early) they do have a great friendship that has lasted since they were little, and that bond is unmistakable.

A trip to the thrift shop to fulfill an errand, however, results in an experience that casts their friendship in a new light, as a magical encounter with a pair of dog-bone necklaces turns them into dogs. Consequently, this is when the real fun begins. As dogs, the girls' sense of smell is so keen that everything smells good, even garbage! And they can hear better as dogs than humans. Ironically enough, these new abilities get them both into and out of trouble as they head out on various adventures.

This was an enjoyable and imaginative read from start to finish, and I could hardly put it down. My eight-year-old daughter recommended this book to me after having read it more than three times!

[Teresa Scherping Moulton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kate and Lucie are best friends, and they LOVE dogs. They have dog tshirts, dog stuffed animals, and dog posters all over their rooms. Unfortunately, the apartment building they both live in does not allow does, so they can't have one of their own. They want to help the dogs in their community, though, so when they hear about a contest to create a song promoting dog adoption, they jump at the chance. Then one day at the thrift store, the two friends spot sparkly dog bone necklaces and have to try them on. Before they know it, the necklaces have transformed them into dogs! Will Kate and Lucie manage to change themselves back? Will being a dog be as much fun as owning a dog? Read this series debut to find out!

Honestly, there wasn't much to this story. The characters are pretty flat, and there's almost no tension in the plot. On the other hand, I don't feel like this book is meant for me. I'm sure it will appeal to its intended audience - kids who like cute stories about animals.

I would recommend this book to grades 2-4, especially dog or animal lovers and those who like girly realistic fiction stories. I would compare this book to the Fancy Nancy chapter book series by Jane O'Connor.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best friends, Kate and Lucie, have a lot in common. But their obsession with dogs and desire for their own canine pets influences everything around them. From their telephones ring-tone to their wardrobe and book collection, dogs are their favorite thing. When the two girls discover some adorable necklaces with little pink dog bone charms at the thrift store they know they have to have them. They immediately try them on and are so ecstatic they holler and give each other a high five. This triggers the magic that starts the mayhem as both girls are turned into the creature they have always wanted! They might look and act like dogs, but they still think and talk like little girls. Imagine the confusion and fun these two get into with their new-found super power! This is a cute little intermediate book that dog-loving girls will probably enjoy. Thought part of me was slightly disturbed by their absolute dogginess!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate and Lucie are best friends who buy a pair of necklaces at a thrift shop. Imagine their surprise when they turn into dogs after saying "Woofa-woof" to each other and high-fiving! Silly? Yes. But it's a premise that many kids will love. Each chapter is almost like a short story detailing some of Kate and Lucie's misadventures as dogs, interspersed with a plot about a radio show that is trying to drum up support for a local animal shelter by holding a jingle contest.

I'm trying to become better-versed in transitional fiction, but I'm finding that many of the offerings are so-so. I wasn't crazy about the premise of this one, but at least Kate and Lucie are distinct characters and the format of the book, where each chapter is a self-contained adventure, will be a good one for transitional readers. That's much more than I can say for many of the other offerings out there!

[FloraTzu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute and fun story. Two girls develop the ability to transform into dogs via some bone necklaces. They always wanted dogs, but due to where they live, they are not allowed to have them. Now they can enjoy dogs by being a dog, and also helping dogs in need with their powers.

The one drawback to me is when they cause trouble, there does not seem to be a lot of consequences. Like tearing up the garden to bury bones, or not getting sick from eating gross scraps found in a bush. It might be the wrong idea for some of that, but it did make for some comedic effect!

[Esutterlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won't revisit the well-described plot, but for light humor and fantasy, this is a fun read. It is not as original as I might have hoped, but is a more contemporary story than the Shaggy Dog that young readers' parents and grandparents may have watched on TV years ago. But shapechanging magic is always appealing to young readers' imagination, and this might just be the book to hook a young dog lover.
I didn't remember the book from cover or title, but as soon as I began to read it when I picked it up today, I remembered the story from reading it last fall, even though I had not put it on my list then.

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm writing this on behalf of my 8 year old daughter. This is her 2nd favorite series (#1 being Harry Potter). The stories seem trite to me, but I'm not a 8-year-old girl. She likes both the main characters in it, and they turn into dogs with the power of magic, what's not to love? They check out a fair bit at the library I work at, so I'd recommend as a good early/mid level beginning chapter book series for kids wanting something harder than Magic Fairy or the Puppy Place books. They are more gender neutral than the cover would have you think, I've seen boys happily check out and read this, and there are 2 boy characters in #2 and #3 for sure, and maybe #1?

[Jean Haberman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute book for dog-loving girls. The two authors Stephanie Calmenson and Joanna Cole both wanted a dog when they were young, so they collaborated on this book. There are more books in this series called "Ready, Set, Dogs!"

Kate and Lucie are best friends who discover they can change into dogs while they are wearing necklaces they found at a thrift shop. The book is a series of adventures they have while teasing two boys with their new found trick. I like the fact that they end up being volunteers at an animal shelter.

[Marzieh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked it. They found necklaces that could turn them into dogs! It was weird to the girls who had them, because they didn't know what they were doing, and they on accident did the thing that made the necklaces turn them into dogs (which is saying Woofa-Woof and at the exact same time doing a high-five to the other person who has it). It was funny, too, and it introduced me to reading chapter books, because I'd barely even read a single chapter book before reading it. It was easy to read, of a chapter book. And the illustrations were amazing.

[Ciara Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super cute story. I thought the girls were a good example of friendship. They didn't mirror each other, they accept their differences and love them for it. There is a certain distance the girls give to the boys in the story. It was refreshing as it is usually the boy characters that speak that way. I think it had a great lesson of evening not being able to have a dog, they still loved them and found ways to be near them. There is plenty of dialog which my niece usually struggles with but I think this is a good book to work on that strength.

[Amber Polo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute story with plenty of action and dialogue for tweens who love dogs.
Two girls, who love dogs but can't have a dog, buy necklaces that allow them to change into dogs at will. The girls collaborate with two boys to win a song writing contest about adopting dogs.
A nice introduction to canine rescue and shelters and how to help. Lively with a clever bit of magic.
Note: The ARC's illustrations were non complete but looked like a great addition to the story.

[Kary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for review from MacMillan. An adorable beginning chapter book for ages 6-9 about 2 best friends who LOVE dogs, but aren't able to have them because their apartment building does not allow them. After buying matching dog bone necklaces at a thrift shop, they find that the necklaces have magic powers that make them change into dogs with a high five. Cute new series for young dog lovers!

[Susan Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this short chapter book up b/c a patron said her daughter just loved it. It's a cute story. Two little girls who both love dogs buy a pair of matching pink dog bone necklaces at their favorite thrift store. Then they discover that the necklaces can turn them into actual dogs. As you can imagine, they have quite a bit of fun with this over the course of the book. Will be great for kids who like funny stories, or who love dogs.

[Dolores · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of appeal for animal lovers here, especially those just starting to read. The illustrations are cute, there are activities and extension activities in the back. But. First chapter books used to be my collection and I read a lot of them. I understand they are aimed at a young, just-starting to read audience. But there are plenty of them that I enjoyed reading. This wasn't one of them.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reviewing this on behalf of my 7 year old...a cute story about best friends who love dogs. The girls love all things dog, but cannot have pets where they live. One magical day they turn into dogs (!!!!) and have all manner of fun adventures. N loved this and talked about it all week. She can't wait for the next book in the series.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

A serviceable series start for early chapter book readers (late 2nd/3rd) about two girls who find matching magical dog bone necklaces that allow them to transform into dogs. The girls have lots of fun running around town, writing a song for a contest, and getting into doggie trouble. Cute and innocuous fun for children ready for chapter books. Great for dog lovers.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

bookaday #83. Wanted to go back and read book #1 of the Ready, Set, Dogs series to see how Lucie and Kate got their magical powers. Cute little story for dog lovers eager to read their first chapter book.

[Amy Varchetti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beach read for kiddos. Not a lot of depth to the plot, but still plenty cute and imaginative. The bonus jokes and articles following the story add a little extra fun. Girls who are dog lovers will especially enjoy this book.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 5 year olds loved this. Best friends that live next door to each other, love dogs and come up with magic necklaces that allow them to change to dogs (and back) at will. Lots of laughs for my kids.