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Down Girl and Sit #3
Bad to the Bone
Down Girl and Sit work hard at training their masters to behave. Masters need to understand the following: Cats and squirrels are dangerous. Dogs need attention so they won't act bad to the bone. Dogs should be called by the right names in obedience class. Dogs need treats like doughnuts just as humans do.
Down Girl and Sit stay very busy as they try to keep their masters in line with mixed results!
64 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 7, 2021
Super cute easy chapter books Henok can read to me with a humorous dog narrator who is trying to train his owner :).
July 24, 2020
This is an awesome book for dog lovers, animal lovers, and kids. Adults too can read this book. I personally liked the way the author puts the pet's perspective. I really enjoyed reading this book. My 9 years son recommended this book to me. He also enjoyed reading it.
This book is s great gift for a child who is below 10 years of age.
This book is s great gift for a child who is below 10 years of age.
February 20, 2021
Delightful dogs-eye view of life, with canine misunderstandings and interpretation of human behavior. My favorite was the Whos-on-first version of doggy obedience school, which the dogs interpret as their hapless owners doing their feeble best.
This would be fun as a shared read or for a kid to read on their own in early elementary.
This would be fun as a shared read or for a kid to read on their own in early elementary.
April 14, 2026
Humor
2nd-4th grade
This book is really funny and easy to read. I like how it’s told from the dog’s point of view because it makes the story more interesting and unique. The characters are silly in a good way, and it keeps you entertained the whole time. Overall, it’s a fun chapter book for younger readers who like animals and humor.
2nd-4th grade
This book is really funny and easy to read. I like how it’s told from the dog’s point of view because it makes the story more interesting and unique. The characters are silly in a good way, and it keeps you entertained the whole time. Overall, it’s a fun chapter book for younger readers who like animals and humor.
January 25, 2018
Great reading for any age!
My 8 year old grandson recommended I read this book- which I promptly downloaded the Kindle version. Such a fun book especially for a dog lover!
My 8 year old grandson recommended I read this book- which I promptly downloaded the Kindle version. Such a fun book especially for a dog lover!
May 15, 2025
made 4 year old and 9 year old laugh. and they both let me read it outloud. magic.
March 1, 2013
Never a Dull Moment in this Dog’s Life …
This review is part of Amazon's Vine program.
I have a first-grader who preferred watching episodes of “Clifford, the Big Red Dog” and “Martha Speaks” over reading any book … until I dropped a copy of BAD TO THE BONE on her lap. It proved to be a win/win situation in our house as the variety of humorous storylines had such an immersive effect on her. This book became the first “chapter” book she read on her own from start to finish.
BAD TO THE BONE is part of the “Down Girl and Sit” series of books that give readers a first-person perspective of a family dog, Down Girl and her friend Sit (the names of all the dogs in the book are derived from the repetitive commands they hear from their various owners). Her distaste for cats and squirrels serve as a common theme throughout the book. Feeling ignored, Down Girl finds ways to attract her owners’ attention (often with assistance of her neighborhood dog friends) and hilarity ensues as her mischievous antics generally make her owner suffer.
The book’s chapters are dedicated to a variety of adventures that were quite funny (for both father and daughter … especially the chapter involving the squirrel). While adequately illustrated, the textual content is meaty and engaging, yet easy to read … my daughter resisted putting the book down until a chapter/storyline was finished. Although BAD TO THE BONE is the third volume of the series, it is written in a manner that doesn’t require reading the other volumes as a primer.
I found BAD TO THE BONE to be a great ice-breaker in getting my daughter to focus more on words than pictures/illustrations. For me, it will be known as THE book that sparked her interest in reading … we will certainly be purchasing volumes one and two.
This review is part of Amazon's Vine program.
I have a first-grader who preferred watching episodes of “Clifford, the Big Red Dog” and “Martha Speaks” over reading any book … until I dropped a copy of BAD TO THE BONE on her lap. It proved to be a win/win situation in our house as the variety of humorous storylines had such an immersive effect on her. This book became the first “chapter” book she read on her own from start to finish.
BAD TO THE BONE is part of the “Down Girl and Sit” series of books that give readers a first-person perspective of a family dog, Down Girl and her friend Sit (the names of all the dogs in the book are derived from the repetitive commands they hear from their various owners). Her distaste for cats and squirrels serve as a common theme throughout the book. Feeling ignored, Down Girl finds ways to attract her owners’ attention (often with assistance of her neighborhood dog friends) and hilarity ensues as her mischievous antics generally make her owner suffer.
The book’s chapters are dedicated to a variety of adventures that were quite funny (for both father and daughter … especially the chapter involving the squirrel). While adequately illustrated, the textual content is meaty and engaging, yet easy to read … my daughter resisted putting the book down until a chapter/storyline was finished. Although BAD TO THE BONE is the third volume of the series, it is written in a manner that doesn’t require reading the other volumes as a primer.
I found BAD TO THE BONE to be a great ice-breaker in getting my daughter to focus more on words than pictures/illustrations. For me, it will be known as THE book that sparked her interest in reading … we will certainly be purchasing volumes one and two.
July 29, 2010
This is truly a story for the dogs, or should I say from the dogs? Down Girl explains about her days protecting her home from the evil cat next door, Here Kitty Kitty. She shares tales of training her master, along with the help of her neighbor Sit. You see, their masters are continually yelling, "Down Girl" or "Sit" to these two hopelessly clueless dogs.
I loved the humor in this short chapter book. It made me laugh out loud on several occasions. Nolan has created a distinctive humorous voice as you hear Down Girl telling her silly story. In one of my favorite chapters, Down Girl explains about her typical day when Rruff (her master, because she's always barking at him):
"I don't know where Rruff goes every morning when he leaves the house. I just know that he is very lucky that I stay home. If I goofed off as much as he does, the squirrels would take over. Sit and I are not about to let that happen.
We want to make the neighborhood safe for everyone - even the man next door. He is not my favorite person. He grills hamburgers in his yard and never gives me any. But I don't hold that against him.
Well, not much."
You can just guess some of the escapades that Down Girl is going to get into with this hamburger-loving neighbor. Nolan also does a wonderful job of combining action, dialog and character development - all of which are important qualities for new readers to understand. The illustrations throughout help develop the humor and silly situations. I would love to ask a child what this story would sound like if the master told it. Or maybe Here Kitty Kitty.
I loved the humor in this short chapter book. It made me laugh out loud on several occasions. Nolan has created a distinctive humorous voice as you hear Down Girl telling her silly story. In one of my favorite chapters, Down Girl explains about her typical day when Rruff (her master, because she's always barking at him):
"I don't know where Rruff goes every morning when he leaves the house. I just know that he is very lucky that I stay home. If I goofed off as much as he does, the squirrels would take over. Sit and I are not about to let that happen.
We want to make the neighborhood safe for everyone - even the man next door. He is not my favorite person. He grills hamburgers in his yard and never gives me any. But I don't hold that against him.
Well, not much."
You can just guess some of the escapades that Down Girl is going to get into with this hamburger-loving neighbor. Nolan also does a wonderful job of combining action, dialog and character development - all of which are important qualities for new readers to understand. The illustrations throughout help develop the humor and silly situations. I would love to ask a child what this story would sound like if the master told it. Or maybe Here Kitty Kitty.
April 30, 2009
This latest book in the Down Girl and Sit series for early chapter book readers is as great as its predecessors. If you need a laugh this book is for you! Whether you're an adult or a child. A dog lover or a cat lover! The humor stems from the fact that the entire series is written from the dogs perspective and their interpretations of human behavior. Down Girl (whose real name appears to be Happy if you note the name on her doghouse) and her friend Sit who lives next door with her master are trying to train their masters. Unfortunately Obedience School doesn't help. In a chapter reminiscent of the old "Who's on First" routine, Down Girl and Sit are clearly at their wits end. Need a laugh in these dark times? Take 20 minutes of your day and look at life from a dog's perspective!
February 18, 2010
This was really really good, actually, but there's just, I mean, I would say little to no chance that a book intended for audiences below third grade is going to get higher than three stars on my entirely-subjective-gut-reaction rating system, here.
Down Girl is a dog who lives with her master, Rruff. Next door is her bff, Sit, and their mortal enemy is Here Kitty Kitty, the cat who lives behind them. As you may have gathered, Down Girl doesn't quite have a grasp on the realities of human-canine interaction, and the results are--well, I'd say hilarious, if you're 7. Mildly amusing, if you're 26. If you're 26 and have no real affection for dogs...uh, I guess then you wind up in, "I can see where someone might find that amusing" territory.
Down Girl is a dog who lives with her master, Rruff. Next door is her bff, Sit, and their mortal enemy is Here Kitty Kitty, the cat who lives behind them. As you may have gathered, Down Girl doesn't quite have a grasp on the realities of human-canine interaction, and the results are--well, I'd say hilarious, if you're 7. Mildly amusing, if you're 26. If you're 26 and have no real affection for dogs...uh, I guess then you wind up in, "I can see where someone might find that amusing" territory.
August 7, 2012
Summary: As told from the perspective of the dog, Down Girl, she explains about her days protecting her home from the enemy next door, Here Kitty Kitty, and the many ways she tries to properly train her master, Rruff.
Humorous story
Appropriate for grades 2-3 (lexile has it as a grade 2 level book)
This is the 3rd book in the Down Girl and Sit series. The library only owns this book in the series. I'd like to put it on a grade 2 reading list but am not really sure if I should if I don't plan to order the first 2 books.
Humorous story
Appropriate for grades 2-3 (lexile has it as a grade 2 level book)
This is the 3rd book in the Down Girl and Sit series. The library only owns this book in the series. I'd like to put it on a grade 2 reading list but am not really sure if I should if I don't plan to order the first 2 books.
February 17, 2013
Down Girl and Sit are back (as are Hush and Here Kitty Kitty)! In book #2, the dogs try to keep their owners safe (by patrolling their backyards at night) and end up keeping the whole neighborhood awake. When their owners (at the end of their leashes!) get fed up with their dogs’ behavior, they take them to a trainer who gets all their names wrong – mass hilarity and confusion ensues (imagine the Who’s on First sketch, but with dogs). If you enjoyed the first book, you will love “Bad to the Bone” – it’s furiously furry and funny.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2014
The third of the Down Girl and Sit books, this is still a funny premise, the book is told in, Down Girl,� the dog's voice. "I will get my master's attention by stealing this pine cone, I know he likes pine cones because he is always picking them up."� When her master, GRRL, tries to teach her to sit, she thinks he has forgotten her name, so she jumps on him. "Down Girl."� Oh good, he remembered. Nolan has nailed the dog psyche, at least as I see it.
December 31, 2010
Interesting to see a book written from the POV of the dog and seeing how dogs interpret what is said to them. In this installment of Nolan's Down Girl and Sit series, the two dogs are out to find a way to get their masters' attention. A fun read and children who like dogs and cats will get a kick out of this book.
October 7, 2012
Of all the Down, Girl and Sit books, "On the Road" is still my favorite. However, young readers will still enjoy the other books as told from the perspective of a dog who believes her name to be "Down, Girl!" This would be a great choice for a chapter book read aloud as the chapters are short and entertaining.
February 2, 2009
I love this series! Down Girl and Sit are two dogs, and the stories they tell are all from their goofy, quirky, doggy perspective. Short chapters, silly humor, lots of illustrations - good beginner chapter books.
July 11, 2009
I always wanted to read about life from a dog's point of view. The dogs believe their names are Down Girl and Sit. Here Kitty Kitty is the enemy threatening to take over the neighborhood. Rruff is the master that needs protecting. This is a perfect beginning chapter book about life as a dog.
July 8, 2013
Nice children's story told from the dog's perspective. Light-hearted and funny, even adult dog owners/lovers will enjoy this charming read. Kindle owners with PRIME memberships can borrow this book on kindle.
Read
February 1, 2009another dog book - this dog needs to train his master
February 26, 2009
the third installment in the Down Girl and Sit Series is just as good and as funny and the first two! A perfect chapter book for an early reader and one who loves Dogs!
January 28, 2010
Lauren read this book to me and LOVED it. Too funny!
May 8, 2010
Down Girl and Sit, the neighboring talking dogs and more of their antics, told from their viewpoint.
May 26, 2010
A funny look at a dog's life in the voice of Down Girl.
November 4, 2010
Perfect reading for my five year old. Silliness with dogs. Nuff said.
February 21, 2011
I love these book. Great quick read alouds with great examples of point of view (the dogs) Some humor is hard for kids to understand but still good books.
October 24, 2011
When I met Lucy Nolan at the Texas Bluebonnet Award luncheon, I asked if she needed a mischievous new character: my dog Chloe, aka No, Leave it! Then this book comes out! Just love these 2 pooches!
April 17, 2013
Why i cant read it!?
February 26, 2014
Clap, Clap, Clap another great down girl and sit book
April 14, 2014
I really liked it because it was fun. The cats name is so funny! The animals think they are teaching us when we are teaching them.
August 5, 2015
Great way to introduce personification to young readers! Funny and clever series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews