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Bad Dog
A free-spirited, bored, and hungry dog misunderstands an ad for free range chickens, and when he and a friend set out to get some, they discover that the chickens--and the police--have other ideas.
- GenresPicture Books
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 23, 2014
Often people describe picture books being akin to poetry and song, and “Bad Dog” is a brilliantly executed example.
A misreading of a newspaper ad about “Free Range Chickens” sends a hungry and spirited dog and his fellow canine buddy on a road trip of escalating proportions!
Anyone who’s tried to write in rhyme (including your lit. rat) knows it’s as HARD to do as it is effortless to read the best examples, and Nina’s rhyme scheme* (*by which I mean “pattern”) allows a, without the potential burden of executing a “Madeline” rhyme on EVERY word of EVERY sentence.
If I were a musician I’d be DYING to turn this book into a song. Somewhere between Simon and Garfunkel’s
“A Poem on the Underground Wall” [from their album "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme"] and the theme song for “CatDog.” (Yes, your lit. rat was a 90s kid, what of it?)
Nina’s Colorful illustrations really capture the sense of unleashed abandon (no pun intended) as our canine bros hit the road, dodging the cops, all in the name of fine and free range chicken, or something like that…
“Bad Dog” is despite it’s title, a “Howling Good Time” pun fully intended here!
Originally Reviewed at TalkingAnimalAddicts.com
A misreading of a newspaper ad about “Free Range Chickens” sends a hungry and spirited dog and his fellow canine buddy on a road trip of escalating proportions!
Anyone who’s tried to write in rhyme (including your lit. rat) knows it’s as HARD to do as it is effortless to read the best examples, and Nina’s rhyme scheme* (*by which I mean “pattern”) allows a, without the potential burden of executing a “Madeline” rhyme on EVERY word of EVERY sentence.
If I were a musician I’d be DYING to turn this book into a song. Somewhere between Simon and Garfunkel’s
“A Poem on the Underground Wall” [from their album "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme"] and the theme song for “CatDog.” (Yes, your lit. rat was a 90s kid, what of it?)
Nina’s Colorful illustrations really capture the sense of unleashed abandon (no pun intended) as our canine bros hit the road, dodging the cops, all in the name of fine and free range chicken, or something like that…
“Bad Dog” is despite it’s title, a “Howling Good Time” pun fully intended here!
Originally Reviewed at TalkingAnimalAddicts.com
October 14, 2019
I can't believe this is by the same Nina Laden who wrote the sweet and careful Once Upon a Memory, a book I adore for it's spare text and lovely illustrations.
This is so bad you want to think it's a joke, but no. A dog wants to murder chickens? Maybe in the 1950s this would have been all in good fun, but at this point, even the meat-eaters among us recognize the importance of respecting your prey. No one -- no one -- looks good in this pun-infested straightforward story of unchecked aggression (that is haha! just dogs being dogs) -- not the dogs, not the police, not the hapless chickens. And dear jeezus, the morality of it is wacked: the dog gets arrested and THEN gets treated to a bucket of fried chicken??
The fact that this was published shows that anything goes. Makes me feel sad and humorless.
This is so bad you want to think it's a joke, but no. A dog wants to murder chickens? Maybe in the 1950s this would have been all in good fun, but at this point, even the meat-eaters among us recognize the importance of respecting your prey. No one -- no one -- looks good in this pun-infested straightforward story of unchecked aggression (that is haha! just dogs being dogs) -- not the dogs, not the police, not the hapless chickens. And dear jeezus, the morality of it is wacked: the dog gets arrested and THEN gets treated to a bucket of fried chicken??
The fact that this was published shows that anything goes. Makes me feel sad and humorless.
June 29, 2019
This was another book I used for a read aloud during the mystery unit in grade 3. This book as well incorporates a lot of language play into the story, which I found entertaining but which my students missed.
January 18, 2017
I saw this book at the library today, and I had to know why this beret-wearing dog was "bad." He and his buddy want to go get lunch, and things go awry.
The story itself was cute. I got a big kick out of all of the puns and little jokes throughout the book. I don't know if kids would get why it's funny, but their grown-ups just might!
The story itself was cute. I got a big kick out of all of the puns and little jokes throughout the book. I don't know if kids would get why it's funny, but their grown-ups just might!
December 15, 2009
Picture Book. A dog is hungry and goes to try and get some chickens, but then gets arrested and goes to jail.
April 3, 2013
This book was kind of funny as an adult, but it used so many puns and cliches that I felt it would be confusing for most kids.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews