Barkley

by Syd Hoff

Barkley is a great circus dog. He can walk on his front legs, and he can walk on his back legs.

But Barkley is getting to be a great old circus dog. He can't keep up with the younger dogs, and he has problems when he joins the other acts. Soon he thinks he will have to leave the circus and the children he loves.

Funny and sad, Barkley joins Syd Hoff 's inimitable cast of characters. Children who love dogs and circuses will love Barkley.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals

32 pages, Library Binding

First published October 14, 1975

About the author

Whether you’re seven or seventy, the chances are you’ve probably come in contact with one of his many books (150 plus), or cartoons that have appeared in over 200 magazines in the course of his lifetime, including Laugh it Off which was syndicated for 20 years. His comic strip Tuffy, about a little girl who did funny things, was declared essential for national morale during WWII by William Randolph Hearst.

Syd has worked in diverse genres. He had the distinct honor of working with Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen as a contributor of short fiction writing. He was awarded national advertising commissions for large companies such as Chevrolet, Maxwell House Coffee and others. He had his own TV show (Tales of Hoff on CBS), traveled the world as entertainment on cruise ships and entertained children and teachers in schools and libraries across the country.

Reviews

[Mischenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barkley by Syd Hoff is about a circus dog named Barkley. Early readers will love the easy to read story while enjoying the illustrations.

5*****

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barkley is a circus dog who is getting on in years. When his owner gets a new dog to lead the act, Barkley feels left out. He tries desperately to fit in, if not with his old act, then with a new one. But when things don't go right, he decides to leave the circus. He wanders into a yard and befriends a group of children playing, but even though Barkley might do amazing tricks, the children agree that the only place for Barkley is back at the circus, which is where he truly belongs, and is still needed. My rating - 3/5

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/28/18 Micah read to Simon and me.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

H read it to me!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Barkley the circus dog gets old, he sadly leaves the circus. Does he belong? But he is smart and eventually finds himself home again.

[Lillie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Favorite part: When the kids got to tickle and pet Barkley the dog. It was sooo funny. I wish daddy could tickle me. HAhhhh. HEE. Hey. Stop.

[Sara! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love.

[Katie Lorsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a dog named Barkley who did cool tricks. He did hula hoops and Barkley became old but then he was able to teach the young dogs. -Tommy