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Raymond
Sit. Fetch. Have a cappuccino. When Raymond the dog starts acting human, will he miss the dog s life?Raymond the dog is just your regular family pet until, one day, he has a couldn t he just . . . sit at the table? Isn t that what families do together? Soon Raymond begins to leave all his canine ways behind, and so do all the other dogs in town. Dogs go to the movies; dogs go out for coffee; and Raymond lands a high-powered journalism job at DOGUE magazine. But is Raymond s new gig all work and no play? He doesn t even have time for family dinner! Maybe, just maybe, Raymond misses the dog s life. . . . At once comedic and genuine, this tale about appreciating the simpler things in life reminds us all that work can wait after all, there are more important things (like getting your ears scratched in just the right place)."
32 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2017
About the author
Yann Le Bec
9 books1 followerYann Le Bec is a French illustrator and graduate of the Royal College of Art in London. He and Gwendal are brothers and run the online visual blog News of the Times with fellow French illustrator Jean Jullien. Yann Le Bec lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 18, 2022
Reminded me of Bulgakov's Heart of a Dog for small children...(but not so nihilistic). I guess we will never tire of animal fables that make us look more deeply into our own nature; and it occurs to me that this is a trend that continues to this day in books for children.
November 7, 2018
It was such a nice surprise finding this in the children's section of the library. You could tell by the design conscious illustration on the cover, this was going to be good and the story inside equalled the artwork.
Raymond lives his doggy life happily with a loving family until he realises that he doesn't sit at the table with them and after all this is what families do. Canine equal rights don't stop there and soon dogs (others have picked up on this) are expecting trips out for coffee, the cinema, and even a magazine of their own to cover dog's issues.
It was during a trip to the newsagents, Raymond picks up a copy of Dogue. Raymond's head is turned and from then on domestic life is a distant memory.
We loved how this story progressed, we loved the conclusion and the lessons learned We loved the dog's angle on life and the fact that the dogs, much like dogs we know enjoy equal family status.
Really nice illustrations, very like Bemelman's Madeline illustrations, free, easy and bright.
Raymond lives his doggy life happily with a loving family until he realises that he doesn't sit at the table with them and after all this is what families do. Canine equal rights don't stop there and soon dogs (others have picked up on this) are expecting trips out for coffee, the cinema, and even a magazine of their own to cover dog's issues.
It was during a trip to the newsagents, Raymond picks up a copy of Dogue. Raymond's head is turned and from then on domestic life is a distant memory.
We loved how this story progressed, we loved the conclusion and the lessons learned We loved the dog's angle on life and the fact that the dogs, much like dogs we know enjoy equal family status.
Really nice illustrations, very like Bemelman's Madeline illustrations, free, easy and bright.
February 13, 2018
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Raymond is a happy dog. He likes having his belly rubbed and snuggles on the sofa, but one day he realises that he wants more out of his life, he wants to be just like a human. He wants to sit at the table and eat with his family and walk on two legs, not four. Raymond hadn’t only begun to act like a human, he’d started a trend. All the other dogs wanted to be just like a human too.
His ambitions didn’t stop there, he wanted to be a reporter for Dogue magazine, which in turn made him famous and he became the face of the biggest dog television programme. Being famous and working hard had its downfalls though.
Is Raymond happy being like a human or, would he rather just be a normal dog again?
Raymond, is a large sized book (just over A4 size), that not only contains a wonderful, imaginative story, but is filled to the brim with bright and colourful, full page illustrations.
The story is hilarious and although this is a book aimed at young children, a lot of the fun references only a grown up would understand – think Toy Story.
This would be a wonderful book to read as a bedtime story, or even as a class read. I can see kids being amused and amazed at a dog that wants to be a human. I thought it was brilliant, and would be happy to recommend it to everyone.
Raymond is a happy dog. He likes having his belly rubbed and snuggles on the sofa, but one day he realises that he wants more out of his life, he wants to be just like a human. He wants to sit at the table and eat with his family and walk on two legs, not four. Raymond hadn’t only begun to act like a human, he’d started a trend. All the other dogs wanted to be just like a human too.
His ambitions didn’t stop there, he wanted to be a reporter for Dogue magazine, which in turn made him famous and he became the face of the biggest dog television programme. Being famous and working hard had its downfalls though.
Is Raymond happy being like a human or, would he rather just be a normal dog again?
Raymond, is a large sized book (just over A4 size), that not only contains a wonderful, imaginative story, but is filled to the brim with bright and colourful, full page illustrations.
The story is hilarious and although this is a book aimed at young children, a lot of the fun references only a grown up would understand – think Toy Story.
This would be a wonderful book to read as a bedtime story, or even as a class read. I can see kids being amused and amazed at a dog that wants to be a human. I thought it was brilliant, and would be happy to recommend it to everyone.
January 27, 2019
Raymond was a happy dog, ensconced in his life with a loving family. Then one day he wondered why he wasn't sitting at the table to eat, and this precipitated a series of thoughts, actions and changes that had him living a far more human life. Sipping lattes, getting his fur groomed, and working his way up the ranks as a reporter for Dogue magazine. Success has its drawbacks however, and soon Raymond wasn't seeing much of his family at all. It was only on holiday, as he rediscovered the small pleasures of life, that a sense of balance was restored...
I went into Yann and Gwendal Le Bec's Raymond with high expectations, given the praise heaped upon it by the goodreads friend who recommended it to me. At first I was conscious of a small feeling of impatience - I generally don't like the "I'm going to treat my dog like a little human" crowd, as their permissive attitude often encourages behavior that severely inconveniences or even endangers others - but once I was able to see the tale as allegorical, I found the humor much more appealing. The story is a classic one, addressing such things as learning to balance different aspects of one's life, and staying true in the end to one's roots, despite fame and fortune. The artwork is colorful and appealing, with a cartoon-like style that is well-suited to the humor of the story. The scene in which Raymond discovers Dogue magazine had me chuckling, as a human nearby is holding a copy of The New Yorkshire - a clear reference to The New Yorker, to which my family subscribed my entire childhood. All in all, this was a fun little picture-book, one I would especially recommend to young dog-lovers.
I went into Yann and Gwendal Le Bec's Raymond with high expectations, given the praise heaped upon it by the goodreads friend who recommended it to me. At first I was conscious of a small feeling of impatience - I generally don't like the "I'm going to treat my dog like a little human" crowd, as their permissive attitude often encourages behavior that severely inconveniences or even endangers others - but once I was able to see the tale as allegorical, I found the humor much more appealing. The story is a classic one, addressing such things as learning to balance different aspects of one's life, and staying true in the end to one's roots, despite fame and fortune. The artwork is colorful and appealing, with a cartoon-like style that is well-suited to the humor of the story. The scene in which Raymond discovers Dogue magazine had me chuckling, as a human nearby is holding a copy of The New Yorkshire - a clear reference to The New Yorker, to which my family subscribed my entire childhood. All in all, this was a fun little picture-book, one I would especially recommend to young dog-lovers.
July 18, 2017
Who knew that my quirky love of fashion magazines would intersect with a dog in a picture book?
August 11, 2017
I loved the illustrations
September 29, 2019
Filled my heart. :-)
November 1, 2021
Cute book. Nice illustrations. I could see how it would spark good conversations on growing up and what is important. Maybe because I see it as a lesson on adulting, that it is not one that will be a favorite, but still good to read with children.
May 27, 2017
This is one of my favorite picture books of the year. The amount of clever details is delightful and the story is very sweet with a good message about working hard while still taking time for yourself. Plus, anything with dogs is 100% in my book.
October 5, 2017
Just look at the cover! It somehow manages to stay this cute throughout. Loved it-
August 4, 2017
Raymond was just a regular family dog, adored by his family. Then he thought one day about joining the family at the table as they ate. Raymond was soon walking on two legs and becoming more and more human. He got a job at DOGUE magazine, being a reporter and soon became an anchor on a dog news show on TV. Raymond didn’t have time for his family anymore and they only got to see him on his show when they tuned in. Finally, his family persuaded him to take some time off. Can Raymond find a way back to being more of a dog and less of a workaholic?
This witty book shows how even a family dog can be drawn into the work life too deeply. Using a family dog as the main character is a smart choice, playing against the typical dog roles. Throughout the book, there is a criticism of our modern work culture that is presented at a level that children will understand. Adults and children alike will cheer when Raymond rediscovers his love for life and ear scratches.
The illustrations have a zing to them as well. From the cover with Raymond carrying a to-go coffee. There is a lovely parallel world of dogs and humans in the images, showing a rich world that Raymond gets caught up in. For their modern touches, the illustrations still have a vintage appeal to them in their flat colors and lines.
A modern fable of the balance of life and work and the joy of chasing balls and spending quiet time together. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
This witty book shows how even a family dog can be drawn into the work life too deeply. Using a family dog as the main character is a smart choice, playing against the typical dog roles. Throughout the book, there is a criticism of our modern work culture that is presented at a level that children will understand. Adults and children alike will cheer when Raymond rediscovers his love for life and ear scratches.
The illustrations have a zing to them as well. From the cover with Raymond carrying a to-go coffee. There is a lovely parallel world of dogs and humans in the images, showing a rich world that Raymond gets caught up in. For their modern touches, the illustrations still have a vintage appeal to them in their flat colors and lines.
A modern fable of the balance of life and work and the joy of chasing balls and spending quiet time together. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
June 13, 2017
What would happen if dogs became more like people? Very amusing.
October 5, 2017
Hahaha. "Douge." :-D
April 17, 2018
This is such a fun book! Raymond is a happy dog, with a wonderful family who love him very much, but one day Raymond decides that he’d like to be more human, and do the things that humans do. The book is around A4 in size with thick matt pages which are filled with lots of colourful illustrations with lots of things to look at.
I love the story of this book. As Raymond becomes more human, he finds a job as a reporter and has less and less time to spend on just being a dog. The story is quite a simple one but very funny. I won’t give away exactly what happens in the story but it’s a great ending and a great message about remembering your priorities in life. Although the message is one that’ll be understood more by adults rather than kids, children will still love the silliness of the tale and all the pictures in the book.
I just love the illustrations and keep looking at this book again and again just for the pictures. The illustrations appear on every page, some being double page spreads while others are not. What I love about the images is just how fun they are. Every picture is clear and very colourful and there are lots of extra things to spot and see. Each picture is funny too with lots of silly things happening, I especially love the pictures in the cinema and the salon where there are lots of other dogs to look at, some doing silly things which you may not notice the first time you read the book. There are also lots of funny things that adults would notice such as well known brands or publications with altered names.
There’s something very fun about this book and although the story is quite simple it ends on a happy note which kids will understand. The book will appeal to any kids but especially those who love dogs or animal. With so many funny illustrations and a funny story I think this book will also appeal to all ages, it’s certainly a book I keep looking back at again and again, I just can’t help love how fun and cute Raymond is!
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy.
I love the story of this book. As Raymond becomes more human, he finds a job as a reporter and has less and less time to spend on just being a dog. The story is quite a simple one but very funny. I won’t give away exactly what happens in the story but it’s a great ending and a great message about remembering your priorities in life. Although the message is one that’ll be understood more by adults rather than kids, children will still love the silliness of the tale and all the pictures in the book.
I just love the illustrations and keep looking at this book again and again just for the pictures. The illustrations appear on every page, some being double page spreads while others are not. What I love about the images is just how fun they are. Every picture is clear and very colourful and there are lots of extra things to spot and see. Each picture is funny too with lots of silly things happening, I especially love the pictures in the cinema and the salon where there are lots of other dogs to look at, some doing silly things which you may not notice the first time you read the book. There are also lots of funny things that adults would notice such as well known brands or publications with altered names.
There’s something very fun about this book and although the story is quite simple it ends on a happy note which kids will understand. The book will appeal to any kids but especially those who love dogs or animal. With so many funny illustrations and a funny story I think this book will also appeal to all ages, it’s certainly a book I keep looking back at again and again, I just can’t help love how fun and cute Raymond is!
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy.
February 10, 2018
Raymond is a dog who had high expectations. He used to just be an ordinary dog, but then he decided being a dog was too easy and he wanted to be more like his human family. So now Raymond sits at the table at dinner, he has a job at an important doggie magazine (Dogue - so funny!), he goes to the movies with other dogs and queues up to board a plane just like the humans do. It's wonderful (no really, it is, can you imagine being in the cinema with a dog in every other seat - how lovely!) and makes for some hilarious illustrations. But soon Raymond realises being a dog was way easier (as any grown-up would confirm!) and so he goes back to enjoying the finer things in life. Like a comfy lap to sleep in and a good belly rub.
The story is genuinely funny and the illustrations cover the entire page which means there's always something exciting to look at or point out with little readers. My only issue with this book was that Raymond (the dog, not the story) was quite a simple illustration - particularly considering he's the main focus of the story. I would have liked him to pop out a little more on the page so he was not only a little easier to spot on a busy page, but also a little bit more exciting for small readers - they fall in love with the drawings often more so than the stories!
ARC provided free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
The story is genuinely funny and the illustrations cover the entire page which means there's always something exciting to look at or point out with little readers. My only issue with this book was that Raymond (the dog, not the story) was quite a simple illustration - particularly considering he's the main focus of the story. I would have liked him to pop out a little more on the page so he was not only a little easier to spot on a busy page, but also a little bit more exciting for small readers - they fall in love with the drawings often more so than the stories!
ARC provided free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2017
Raymond is a good and happy dog—the best kind of dog his owners could ask for! But one day, Raymond has a “big thought” about engaging in his world in a bit more of a human way. Sitting at tables, going to movies, and sipping on cappuccino are all pleasures that Raymond is finally able to enjoy! He soon lands his dream job of working at DOGUE magazine and while he loves the exclusive interviews of acrobatic canines and painting pups, he soon realizes that while human adventures are fun, snuggling, scratching and sniffing are his true doggy desires. The tone of this story is so playful and readers will laugh out loud at all the canine escapades, clever illustrations, and heartwarming ending.
June 10, 2017
Quirky, "There's no place like home"
June 12, 2017
A cautionary tale about grass not really being greener - and the value of not working too hard.
February 13, 2018
Nice perspective on modern life - not too subtle but fun.
March 3, 2018
Really cute illustrations, very reminiscent of de Brunhoff's Babar series.
July 7, 2021
This book is hilarious! I smiled all the way through. : )
And the illustrations are wonderful.
And the illustrations are wonderful.
August 3, 2023
A dog named Raymond learned to be a human, eventually went back to dog happily.
September 20, 2025
what a skit
March 9, 2023
So many
September 6, 2017
Hilarious! Adults will appreciate the details in the illustrations. Especially if you're of the adult variety that is over-worked, over-caffeinated, under-vacationed, and are under water in the work-life balance. I can easily see this book starting out as a concept in the writer's room of 30 Rock with a question like, "What would happen if Alec Baldwin reincarnated as a household pet and where would his drive and ambition take him?" (To be clear, Le Bec is not affiliated with 30 Rock; the quirky, dry humor of this story filed it away in my brain's file cabinets right alongside 30 Rock's files and I couldn't help but notice that they were file neighbors.)
May 22, 2026
We love this book, if you have a kid who loves dogs this is such a fun read!
April 26, 2017
Who would voluntarily give up a dog's life? A fun look at the importance of taking time for important things...and people. I hope busy parents make time to read this book with their children...or dogs.
May 1, 2017
Not your typical dog's life.
May 2, 2017
Maybe a dog's life isn't so boring after all!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews