Skunkdog: A Picture Book

by Emily Jenkins, Emily Jenkins

Dumpling is a dog of enormous enthusiasm, excellent obedience skills – and no sense of smell. She doesn't care about flowers, garbage, or any of the other smelly things most dogs enjoy. As a result, Dumpling has no dog friends. With a useless nose, she can't relate. Dumpling is lonely . . . until she and her people move to the country. And then the good dog has to choose between obedience and friendship – with a skunk! Ridiculous, touching, and a little bit disgusting, Skunkdog, with its lively storytelling and comic pictures, will spark conversations and giggles.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Dogs, Animals, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 29, 2008

About the author

Emily Jenkins is the author of many books for children, including the recent picture books Tiger and Badger, illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay, and Princessland, illustrated by Yoko Tanaka. Her chapter books include the Toys series, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky; she is co-author of the Upside-down Magic series. Emily Jenkins lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For a fuller explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf.

Although introduced as a dog who has very little nose, Pratt gave Dumpling an enormous nose. I like the irony, if not the concern for overbred dogs.

***

As a person with an extremely limited sense of smell, I dearly loved this. I don't think I've ever read a book before about an animal who couldn't smell.

Library copy.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dumpling (the dog) and her people move out into the country where she has room to run, a woods to walk in, and absolutely no friends! One special characteristic of Dumpling is that she has no sense of smell, making it very hard for her to relate to other dogs. So when Dumpling was digging under a bush and was sprayed by a skunk, she doesn't really notice. But her people do! They try one way after another to get rid of the stench, but nothing works until they try tomato juice. When Dumpling is finally clean and stench-free, they release her to the backyard admonishing not to play with the skunk again. But Dumpling misses the skunk and when she can't find the skunk she starts to get sadder and sadder. In this tale of unlikely friends, there is of course a happy ending, except maybe for the people who have to smell Dumpling.

This book is charming. Dumpling is a round dog with a long nose, made all the more silly by the fact she can't smell. The family is wonderfully cartoony, with a round-faced boy, angular mom and square dad. But the skunk steals the show with the big pink nose and always lifted tail. Jenkin's words are equally successful as they tell the story of loneliness and unusual friendship. The text may seem long for a picture book at first glance, but it is very easy to read aloud and never drags.

Highly recommended for children ages 4-7. Add this to your dog story times, friendship story times, and to your pile of books that kindergarteners and first graders will enjoy hearing read aloud.

[Robert Beveridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Jenkins, Skunkdog (Frances Foster Books, 2008)

Cute story about a dog with no sense of smell who moves to the country and befriends a skunk (and the travails of his family, who finally learn to stock up on tomato juice). It's not the be-all and end-all of Jenkinsiana (I'm not sure she will ever come up with another book as downright darling as Sugar Would Not Eat It, which is on the short shelf of my All-Time Favorite Kids' Books(TM)), but it's gently funny, just tasteless enough to hook the kiddies, and has a warm-and-fuzzy(-and-stinky) feeling when you're finished with it. Quite likable, and recommended. *** 1/2

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different story. Cute little dog and skunk. One of those longer picture books ... too many words for the new reader to do on their own. Too long to read in one "storytime" sitting. But cute and worth individual readalouds.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenkins, Emily Skunkdog, illustrated by Pierre Pratt. Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2008. PICTURE BOOK. Language - G, Sexual Content -G; Violence - G;

Dumpling, a.k.a. Skunkdog, is a delightful pet, but her nose isn’t as great as she is; she can’t smell anything. Dumpling and her family move to a new place where she meets a new black and white friend that she is determined to keep.

The illustrations are so adorable that I wanted to have Dumpling and the skunk for my own regardless of the smell. Loneliness and acceptance are subjects that most kids understand. It begs to be read to someone!

EL – ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: Kami, Children’s Librarian.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008...

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dumpling the dog didn't have any dog friends because he couldn't smell anything - unlike other dogs. When he met a skunk and got sprayed more than once, he didn't even care - unlike his people. Funny story with a cute and funny ending.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm, I'm not sure I like this book. I love that the dog is inclusive and friendly to others. But I don't like how he is disobedient. Because of the disobedience, I'd probably not recommend it. There are so many other books that teach inclusion without also including disobedience.

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this (somewhat long) story a dog without any animal friends becomes friends with a skunk because she doesn't have a sense of smell.

Illustrations are cartoony and sweet.

[Lumi Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun and funny book to read with the family, specially if you own a dog and live out in the woods.

[Brystal Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about friendship!

[Natalia Lindquist]

Skunkdog is about a puppy named Dumpling who could not smell anything. Dumpling had no dog friends because they didn’t have anything in common. One day, Dumpling’s family moved into a new house where he discovered a new friend. Dumpling met a skunk and started being friends but he soon started to smell. His owners covered him in tangerines and tomato juice but he still smelled. Dumpling continued to befriend skunk because they were very similar. This book should be read in classrooms because it allows kids to know that if you enjoy someone’s company then you should befriend them no matter what other people think. This book can be very relatable because often times, kids have insecurities about fitting in and finding friends that they can relate to. This book also consists of lot of humor as well which I think is important for kids to have when feeling alone.
Jenkins, E., & Pratt, P. (2008). Skunkdog. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

[John Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skunkdog is an interesting book; Dumpling, a dog who lacks a sense of smell, moves to the country with her owners. Back in the city, dumpling did not have any dog friends because of her inability to sniff out scents, but in the country, Dumpling jumps at the opportunity to befriend a skunk. At first, the skunk doesn't have the same desire, but after Dumpling continues to want to play, even after being sprayed, the skunk loosens up and the two get along. The family tries everything to rid Dumpling of her smell, and finally find that tomato juice does the trick. Skunkdog is a fun story that I think many students would enjoy. This might be a good book to use in a vocabulary lesson because it included rather big words, such as: paroxysms, afghan, and foliage.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

0-7
Cute story of a city dog with no friends because he can't smell, and therefore can't relate to other dogs. Upon moving to the country with "his people" he meets a skunk who sprays him, which is no deterant to skunkdog! His "people" fret over how to get the lingering stink out and forbid him to play with skunks. The dog, usually obedient, goes against them, because skunk is the first friend he has had. The two remain close friends, with dog occasionally getting sprayed and the family keeping cans of tomato juice on hand for baths.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a humorous tale about a dog who cannot smell. His disability does not make him popular with dogs, but it does enable him to make an unusual friend. This friend poses a few difficulties for Dumpling's family, but Dumpling is happy.

The narrative is fun to read aloud and the illustrations are very colorful and cartoonish. The different methods the family tried for trying to remove the stench of skunk are certainly interesting, but our girls even knew the good old standby that finally worked. We enjoyed reading this book together.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

thought of my dog because she's stinky. but it was literally about a dog being sprayed by a skunk whom he befriended. and it used a big word on the second page that just seemed weird--paroxysm of delight or something like that. eeh.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this story to my younger kids. It was far "wordier" than most picture books, and most kids probably won't be able to sit still for the entire story. The friendship between the dog and the skunk was very sweet and I admire the patience of the little boy and his parents.

[Jessica Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Dumpling the dog keeps getting sprayed by a skunk but it doesn't bother him because he can't smell anything and they become best friends. There are great vocabulary words in this book that children could learn and it would give them a good laugh!

[Marcy Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fun, cute book about a dog who has no friends. Since the dog has no sense of smell, it befriends a skunk, much to the horror of his family. A sweet story about friendship being more important than, well, stinkiness! :)

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute story but a little long winded and odd vocabulary choices- for example- "She went into paroxysms of joy..." Not appropriate for a picture book- a different word would have been a better choice.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

great tale of dog who cannot smell and makes friends with a skunk.

[Roxanne Hsu Feldman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet little story of an unlikely but reasonable friendship between a dog and a skunk. The illustrations are strong and expressive.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute little story about a dog with no sense of smell who befriends a skunk - much to the chagrin of her family who mut buy LOTS of tomato juice.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love dogs, so this picture book is a winner with me! The story of a dog who can't smell - other dogs find him a bore. However, for a skunk, he makes a great friend :)

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel for this lonely little dog and I like how he just wants a friend. I thought this was a cute book and I really enjoyed this when I did not need to think to much. Ages 4+

[Seashell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Q was bored with the story and asked me to stop reading it.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids loved it. Great pictures, interesting premise. The dog has a small nose and can't smell things or relate to other dogs. He makes friends with a skunk, gets sprayed often... just silly.

[Jami · Rating 2 out of 5]

we learned a new word today; paroxysms. I'm not sure it'll get much mileage from the six year old.

[Heather Chang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny picture book as it deals with stinky smells coming from under a skunk's tail as he repeatedly sprays a dog.

[Katey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange story but its all about friendship and love. The dog befriends a skunk and doesn't mind the smell. The owners hate the smell but love the dog enough to deal with it.

[Christi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really funny story about unlikely friends and the consequences