Every Dog in the Neighborhood

by Philip C. Stead, Matthew Cordell (Illustrator)

Louis and his eccentric Grandma set out to count every dog in the neighborhood when they find out about city hall's woefully inadequate record keeping.

Louis wants a dog, but his Grandma insists, "There are enough dogs in the neighborhood already." But how many dogs are in the neighborhood? Surely a sternly worded letter to City Hall will clear this up. When it turns out that City Hall doesn't keep an official count of this essential demographic, Louis and his Grandma do their civic duty and take matters into their own hands. Together they meet all sorts of dogs with hilarious names and personalities. When they're done, Louis's grandmother is sure he's missed one particularly lovable dog, a mutt named Baklava in need of a new home.

Philip Stead and Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell have once again shown their knack for making quirky and endearing stories about grandparent and grandchild duos in the tradition of Follow That Frog and Special Delivery.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Genres: Picture Books, Dogs, Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Humor

40 pages, Hardcover

Published June 21, 2022

About the author

Philip C. Stead is the author of the Caldecott Medal winning book A Sick Day for Amos McGee, also named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2010 and a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of 2010, illustrated by his wife, Erin E. Stead. Together with Erin, he also created Bear Has a Story to Tell, an E.B. White Read-Aloud Award honor book. Philip, also an artist, has written and illustrated several of his own books including Hello, My Name is Ruby, Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat, A Home for Bird, and his debut Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast, which was applauded by School Library Journal for “its wry humor and illustrations worthy of a Roald Dahl creation.” Philip lives with Erin and their dog, Wednesday, in a 100-year-old barn in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Reviews

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun book. Illustrations are great. Lots of fun details you can spend time discussing and appreciating. For a dog book, the story is very dog centered. Grandma knows everything, except how many dogs are in the neighborhood. Even City Hall doesn't know how many dogs there are after they send stern letters asking.

"People listen if they know you're upset," says Grandma.

I won't give it away as to how many dogs are in the neighborhood. Might be fun to guess. (Hint, how many dogs do you think you could briefly cover in a book?

I like the list of things they take when they go out to count the dogs in the neighborhood. Might be another thing that would be fun to talk with a child and try to guess what to bring before reading the book. Hope this isn't a big spoiler but here is that part but without the pictures that go with it:

'I grab my backpack and collect all the things I am going to need'
Clipboard and paper
Proper credentials (homemade card saying 'Louis - Neighborhood Dog Surveyor - *Official*
Fancy pen)
One red apple
One green apple
Two chocolate cookies
Comfy shoes

With any book, or news source, it is important to not just believe and be questioning things. They also ran into people who have different pets like cats and birds. But the part that made me go WWWWWWWAAAAAAAAIIIIIITTTTTTTAAAAAAMMMMIIIIINNNNNNNUUUUTTTE! was:

'One house has a Burmese python and a Komodo dragon.'

As I suspected, when I looked that up if you can NOT have a Komodo dragon as a pet. The web says:

'No, it is not possible to have a Komodo dragon as a pet. They are a protected species, and it is illegal in many places to own them. Komodo dragons are also extremely large, dangerous, and require specialized care that is not feasible for most private individuals.'

So a very fun book and a good lesson to keep your thinking cap on for anything you read.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very old-fashioned, the kind of story that I read when I was young and has since gone out of print. But still very relevant. I love the theme, of course, about seeing a need and working to get it meant, but I think the best part for me was the names of all the dogs.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Mr. Stead’s work. But for whatever reason, I’ve never enjoyed a Stead/Cordell collaboration. That is…until now.

Every Dog in the Neighborhood is a fun, sweet, inspiring surprise.

Louis and his Grandma make quite a team. Together they predict weather, write letters, walk, work, and act to get things done in their neighborhood. When Grandma sees a problem, she sets out to fix it. When Louis wants to know something, he sets out to find the answer. In this case, Louis wants to know how many dogs are in his neighborhood. So off he goes *knock-knock-knocking* door to door. He meets his neighbors, their dogs, and a few other animals along the way. Grandma, in the meantime, is on a mission of her own. Come see! Come see the lessons, the dogs, and the art. Oh, the art!

I love the lines here. All the lines! Mr. Cordell fills his work with lines that make the scenes come to life with movement, depth, heart, and humor. For me, the story said move, act, do it! And those same words and actions are mirrored in the illustrations. Look at the faces when the rain comes and the plaid suits and flashlight beams! Just perfect. I keep going back to explore the pages for little details I might have missed.

This book is a joy! It encourages readers to be the change and to take action.

p.s. My favorite illustration was the bathroom. That wallpaper! And I love the fact that Louis and a certain dog have the same in-your-eyes style haircut. :)

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is simply something about illustrator Matthew Cordell's artwork that makes me smile and bears a second, third and fourth look. The detail of the pen and ink and watercolor illustrations in this picture book show emotions effectively through body language and facial expressions, and the neighborhood in which the characters live seems populated with interesting individuals as well as spaces that need reclaiming and buses that zip by, blowing exhaust pollution, most likely heralding Grandma's next project. In this book Cordell teams up with Philip C. Stead, whose books sometimes touch me deeply and sometimes leave me mystified. This one brought a smile to my lips as it requires some reading between the lines and paying close attention to the text and illustrations. Plus, it's partly about dogs, and I love dogs and cats. Told from the point of view of Louis, a young boy who lives with his grandmother and wishes that he had a dog of his own, the plot concerns Louis's efforts to ascertain the number of dogs in the neighborhood. After his inquiry to City Hall offers no information, Louis follows his grandmother's lead in acting when the authorities don't be gathering the data himself. Equipped with supplies, including a clipboard, an identification badge, and snacks, Louis surveys his neighbors, even those that he is sure don't have a dog. At each house, the residents tell him a little bit about their pets, even in one case, a well-loved dog that died years ago but is still remembered fondly. At the end of his efforts, Louis has counted 19 dogs. But his grandmother has a surprise for him, and a little sweetness comes into his life in the form of Baklava. The letter he writes to City Hall reporting on his data collection and chastising them for poor record-keeping is heartfelt and moving. Louis's earnestness is visible on every page, and readers will love that both of these characters--Louis and his grandmother--take action to effect change when City Hall seems disinterested. Note the various scenes in which Grandma is repurposing what seems to be an abandoned lot--cutting the fence, mowing grass, cleaning the grounds, and planting trees and shrubs so that it is perfect for a dog part. The last double-page spread shows all those neighbors and their dogs enjoying the grassy place where they can play and run and socialize with one another. Grandma might be a bit eccentric, but she serves as a great role model for Louis. Readers will want to take off the book jacket to see portraits of all 20 of the dogs Louis meets while interviewing his neighbors. Perhaps dogs--and cats--are the key to the hearts of those around us.

[Christiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even remember how this book ended up on my radar but ITZA GOOD ONE, DUDES.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this sweet book.
When a boy wonders how many dogs live in the neighborhood, his grandmother tells him to find out. This leads him to knock on doors and meet all of the neighborhood dogs. While Louis is doing this his grandmother is also up to something but it might take re-reading to find out what that is.

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A grandmother and her grandson have different agendas to make their community just a little bit better.

Anything releated to dogs will get a read from me. I always browse the kids section when I visit the library to see what jumps out at me. This one is a keeper.

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute and it entertained the whole family.

[Estee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book is only about 40 pages, I have read it about 30 times since we brought it home from the library. So I think it counts as a book.

I mostly wanted to review this book because I love it! The relationship between a boy and his grandma is sweet. She doesn’t say much but he quietly respects her and really listens to what she says. She also leads by example which is nice. I love that the boy takes what the grandma tells him “sometimes if you want something done, you have to do it yourself” and takes the initiative to survey the number of dogs in his neighborhood.

This book doesn’t come out and say it but it stresses the value of community and getting to know the people and dogs in the neighborhood. The dog names and facts are interesting!

As a dog lover, the first and last dog ‘stories’ get me every time I read this book.

The illustrations are lively and detailed and we least notice something new each reading.

Thank you for this book! We borrow a lot of books from the library and I hardly ever review them but I felt this one really deserved a mention.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable, I love the collaboration of Stead and Matt Cordell! A boy and his grandma go on a mission to document every dog in their neighborhood. In the process they may find a new furry pet of their own. Super darling, I was chuckling to myself on multiple pages. This reminds me of some kids to go to storytime who also went around learning all the pets in their neighborhood. A keeper!

[Amanda Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Features is this book that I adore: a boy and his grandma are a family. The people in the neighborhood are diverse, including an lgbtq couple. Grandma's actions are implied, making a great book for making predictions. The kid goes door to door to take a survey, which could introduce data collection. The dog names are adorable. I think I love E.B.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

When City Hall can not give Grandma a number, Louis gets to help his grandma get a count of every dog in the neighborhood. He does it the old-fashioned way -- knocking on doors. Along the way he meets all the people who live nearby as well as their dogs. What a joy it is then when the neighborhood dog park is done and all the dogs can gather there with their owners. Matthew Cordell's whimsical, colorful drawings give off a comfortable vibe. You feel at home in this dog-friendly part of town where Grandma models being a concerned and involved citizen for Louis and her neighbors.

Thank you to Neal Porter Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 3 out of 5]

Todos os cachorros do meu bairro (Rio de Janeiro: Globinho, 2023)

[Brunette Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, great illustrations, and lovely story. <3

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good lessons here. You’re never too young to be active in your community and trust your Grandma.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! The artwork has many sweet details and definitely expands the story. Anyone who loves dogs would love this as well as the interesting names of the dogs. Also good for community activism.

[Barb Keltner · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUCH a great book, for both dog lovers and those who want to make things a little better!

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

"All the dogs are good dogs, even the bad ones."

Library copy

[Susan Siow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm no dog lover, but I adored this book. A must-read!

[RG · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the dog lovers! Such a marvelous book about taking matters into your own hands. Also the influence of active grandmothers makes this book even sweeter.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luckily happened upon this in the library. Lovely!

[Relyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relyn Rating: 4.5 stars

This is a witty, wonderful book. Children will love it for all the dogs. They'll also love the happy ending and the spunky grandma. Most of them will miss the wit of the dogs' names, but those who don't will be delighted.

[Union County Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of Louis and his Grandmother. The story begins with Louis wondering how many dogs there are in the neighborhood. Secretly he would like a dog of his own. Grandma replies that there are "enough dogs in the neighborhood." Upon observing his grandmother writing a letter to City Hall, Louis writes a letter himself, requesting the number of dogs residing in the neighborhood. He does does not get the answer he wants. Grandma reminds him, "sometimes if you want something done you've just got to do it yourself." That response encourages Louis to find out how many dogs are in his neighborhood. The story follows Louis as he meets all of his neighbors and their dogs. At the conclusion of the story readers are surprised to find that Grandma was right..."there are enough dogs in the neighborhood." This is a sweet story that reminds young readers that hard work can pay off and sometimes things work out even if you are not expecting them to. I enjoyed this book very much. My own children, who are now 20 and 17 would have enjoyed it too. I recommend that you share it with your favorite 4-8 year old.

- Reviewed by Sherri F.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting, quirky book. I love the illustrations and the story is fun but very random. If you or your child is a dog lover, this will be a fun book to read together!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two stories here that are both sweetly rewarding. As Grandma tells Louis, "Sometimes if you want something done, you have to do it yourself." Louis' story is front and center but Grandma's is just as much fun.

Stead was having fun here - especially with the dog names ;-) - and readers will too. Lovely!!

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! Great for dog-lovers and people who want to improve their communities.

[Roben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louis lives with his Grandma. Louis would like to have a dog - but his Grandma thinks there are already enough dogs in the neighborhood. But she doesn't know how many. Louis writes to City Hall and asks - but they don't know either. So Louis decides to take a survey. In the meantime, Grandma is also writing to City Hall about a vacant lot that needs some upkeep. She's not too happy with the response she receives so she decides to turn the vacant lot into a dog park. While she is working on the dog park, Louis is busy meeting neighbors and counting dogs. How many dogs do you think there are in one neighborhood? (Hint - Grandma's Dog Park is VERY popular!)

This book is a fun read - especially all the different dog names. I was especially fond of E. B. But it also has a lot of potential for expanded activities in a classroom. You could do a survey of people in the class that have pets. Louis found that not everyone had a dog. There were cats and birds and even a Komodo dragon! And the class could also write to City Hall! It could be to ask for something or the class could just write thank you letters.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Nonsense! There are enough dogs in the neighborhood already."

This is Grandma's reply to her grandson who asks for a dog on their walk one day. But how many dogs are there actually in the neighborhood? Meanwhile, on their walk, Grandma sees something that does not make her happy and she decides to write a "very stern letter" to City Hall. "People listen if they know you're upset." So her grandson decides to ask City Hall how many dogs there are. The city says they have no official count. So, the grandson decides to make a survey of the neighborhood. He learns more than just the number of dogs as he talks to the people in his neighborhood and he sends his final report back to the city "to encourage you to keep better records in the future."

This is a great book for inferring because Grandma never says what she is writing the city about, it has to be inferred from the pictures. A beautiful story about community and making a positive impact in your world, even if it's just by talking to your neighbors.

[Angela A. Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this picture book, a touching story about a Grandma and Grandson bonding over a very important topic : How many dogs are in the neighborhood I live in and why can't I have one?

How many dogs live in the neighborhood? Louis decides to find out—by meeting every single one.

Louis really wants a dog, but his Grandma insists, “There are enough dogs in the neighborhood already.” While Louis disagrees, he realizes he needs more information to support his argument: so he sets out to figure out how many dogs live in the neighborhood.

While Grandma sets out on errands of her own, Louis starts knocking on doors. He meets big dogs and little dogs, dogs with jobs, dogs who eat socks, and dogs who are much missed. (He also meets cats, and birds, and one very big python, but those don’t count!)

By the time he gets home Louis is ready to tell Grandma just how many dogs are in the neighborhood. . . . But Grandma thinks he just might have missed one. A particularly loveable dog. A dog who needs a new home.

Maybe there are enough dogs in the neighborhood after all.