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Good Dog, Carl #10
Carl's Sleepy Afternoon
A new book to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Good Dog, Carl
Carl is finally back! Once again, Alexandra Day has concocted a very busy day for the amazing and all-around resourceful Rottweiler Carl. His owner believes Carl is at home taking a nap, when really he's making tracks all over town. He visits a bakery, makes a delivery for the pharmacist, helps out a veterinarian, and joins in a magician's act in the park. But in the most important event of the day, Carl becomes a real hero when he rescues a litter of puppies from a fire.
With eight more pages of fun than in the previous Carl books, this captivating adventure, related mostly through pictures, will delight fans old and new.
Carl is finally back! Once again, Alexandra Day has concocted a very busy day for the amazing and all-around resourceful Rottweiler Carl. His owner believes Carl is at home taking a nap, when really he's making tracks all over town. He visits a bakery, makes a delivery for the pharmacist, helps out a veterinarian, and joins in a magician's act in the park. But in the most important event of the day, Carl becomes a real hero when he rescues a litter of puppies from a fire.
With eight more pages of fun than in the previous Carl books, this captivating adventure, related mostly through pictures, will delight fans old and new.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 5, 2005
About the author
Alexandra Day
74 books95 followersAlexandra Day, the beloved creator of Good Dog, Carl, is the literary persona of Sandra Louise Woodward Darling—an artist and storyteller devoted to the deep, joyful connection between children and animals. The beloved children's book author, Alexandra Day, is the literary persona of Sandra Louise Woodward Darling, an artist and storyteller passionate about connecting children and animals.
Born in 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Alexandra Day emerged from a creative family where painting was a cherished pastime. Four formative years on a hundred-acre Kentucky farm nurtured her deep connection to animals and literature, fostering the seeds of her future artistic vision.
Day and her husband, Harold Darling, founded Green Tiger Press in 1970, marking the beginning of their publishing adventure. Her breakthrough came in 1985 with Good Dog, Carl, a book inspired by an antique German illustration she discovered in a Zurich bookshop. The story was based on her own Rottweiler, Toby, and featured her granddaughter, Madeleine, as the baby.
Over the past four next three decades, Day has published twenty-four Carl books, selling more than six million copies. The series, featuresing a gentle Rottweiler caring for a baby and their adventures, is a beloved staple of children's literature. Beyond Carl, she also created the Frank and Ernest series, The Teddy Bear’s Picnic, and many other books.
After selling Green Tiger Press in 1986, Day and Harold started Blue Lantern Publishing. In 1993, they moved to Seattle and founded Laughing Elephant Publishing. Following Harold's passing in 2016, Day continues to run the company with her family.
When not painting Carl or working at her publishing company, Day can be found spending time with her grandchildren and tending her garden. Alexandra Day often visits libraries and schools with her dogs, promoting reading and the benefits of therapy animals. Her life's work celebrates the magical bond between children, animals, and storytelling.
Born in 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Alexandra Day emerged from a creative family where painting was a cherished pastime. Four formative years on a hundred-acre Kentucky farm nurtured her deep connection to animals and literature, fostering the seeds of her future artistic vision.
Day and her husband, Harold Darling, founded Green Tiger Press in 1970, marking the beginning of their publishing adventure. Her breakthrough came in 1985 with Good Dog, Carl, a book inspired by an antique German illustration she discovered in a Zurich bookshop. The story was based on her own Rottweiler, Toby, and featured her granddaughter, Madeleine, as the baby.
Over the past four next three decades, Day has published twenty-four Carl books, selling more than six million copies. The series, featuresing a gentle Rottweiler caring for a baby and their adventures, is a beloved staple of children's literature. Beyond Carl, she also created the Frank and Ernest series, The Teddy Bear’s Picnic, and many other books.
After selling Green Tiger Press in 1986, Day and Harold started Blue Lantern Publishing. In 1993, they moved to Seattle and founded Laughing Elephant Publishing. Following Harold's passing in 2016, Day continues to run the company with her family.
When not painting Carl or working at her publishing company, Day can be found spending time with her grandchildren and tending her garden. Alexandra Day often visits libraries and schools with her dogs, promoting reading and the benefits of therapy animals. Her life's work celebrates the magical bond between children, animals, and storytelling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
June 28, 2021
I love the Carl books. I can read them 100 times, and still enjoy them. The stories are light and fun, the illustrations grand. USA Today calls it "extraordinary sweetness." I think that says it all.
Start with "Good Dog, Carl" but you don't have to. There are close to 20 of them, all enchanting.
Start with "Good Dog, Carl" but you don't have to. There are close to 20 of them, all enchanting.
August 7, 2017
Amazing art
July 29, 2011
This particular book was published exactly 20 years after the first Carl book, Good Dog, Carl, and I did have an urge to groan when the Carl books are mentioned within the covers of this story. These books are nearly wordless, told mostly through the pictures. The illustrations in this book are fine, and I really enjoyed them, but the latest Carl books have the illustrations I like the very most.
This is another delightful outing when Carl has many adventures to which young Madeleine is privy but her mother is clueless. Children are likely to feel gleeful when they see all that Carl gets away with, and all his heroism, and the fact that a young girl notices but the adult mother misses completely, thinking that Carl is home taking a nap when Madeleine and her mother must leave him at home while they go do various errands.
The food in this one made me hungry, well the human food, not the food designed for dogs.
There is one scene showing a bit of blood and a painful procedure that happens at the vet, not to Carl, but Carl helps hold down another dog so the vet can treat that dog. That one page might trouble sensitive readers; the rest of the book is pure fun, and very amusing.
This is another delightful outing when Carl has many adventures to which young Madeleine is privy but her mother is clueless. Children are likely to feel gleeful when they see all that Carl gets away with, and all his heroism, and the fact that a young girl notices but the adult mother misses completely, thinking that Carl is home taking a nap when Madeleine and her mother must leave him at home while they go do various errands.
The food in this one made me hungry, well the human food, not the food designed for dogs.
There is one scene showing a bit of blood and a painful procedure that happens at the vet, not to Carl, but Carl helps hold down another dog so the vet can treat that dog. That one page might trouble sensitive readers; the rest of the book is pure fun, and very amusing.
October 29, 2024
Sweet story with beautiful realistic illustrations.
October 11, 2018
This book tells the story of another one of Carl's adventures. In this adventure, Carl is left alone at home while his family goes shopping. As the day progresses, Carl adventures into town and helps wherever he can.
I absolutely love this book. The Carl series is so cute. The illustrations in this book are so beautiful.
I would use this book to show my students how to get theri point across with as few words as possible. It would also be a great way to introduce them to wordless books without completely taking away the words.
I absolutely love this book. The Carl series is so cute. The illustrations in this book are so beautiful.
I would use this book to show my students how to get theri point across with as few words as possible. It would also be a great way to introduce them to wordless books without completely taking away the words.
December 4, 2017
genre- Realistic fiction
Grade- Primary
This book is very fun to read. we follow Carl a dog who is left at home but goes on an adventure. The amount of stuff that Carl is able to do in the time the little girl and her mother are shopping is a little ridiculous but other than that I have nothing but praise for this book. The illustrations are wonderful and the story really couldn't be understood without them. I would recommend this book.
Grade- Primary
This book is very fun to read. we follow Carl a dog who is left at home but goes on an adventure. The amount of stuff that Carl is able to do in the time the little girl and her mother are shopping is a little ridiculous but other than that I have nothing but praise for this book. The illustrations are wonderful and the story really couldn't be understood without them. I would recommend this book.
March 17, 2018
I like all the Carl books we've read so far and how the illustrations tell the story more than the words. I also like the way they place a kinder light on a stereotyped breed of dogs. These storylines do encourage mischief; however, I'll keep renting Day's books from the library because the illustrations are gorgeous and my boys sit and watch me turn the pages as if they are watching a video.
January 5, 2018
Carl does more in one day than I do in a week! 😂 In this book, just to name a few, Carl gives a flower to an old lady, delivers some doggie medicine to a vet, takes part in a magic show, and saves a basket of puppies from a burning building. Is there anything Carl can’t do!?
August 21, 2019
Carl is a helpful Rottweiler, and well known in his town. His gentle humorous adventures are all so well illustrated that the story practically tells itself, especially in the earlier books which have very few words.
July 13, 2023
Carl! His owner tells him to take a nap while she and Madeline (no longer a baby, but still a young child!) go run errands for the day. Of course, Carl ends up going out and about near them, even saving puppies from danger.
This dog has an awful lot of time on his paws!
This dog has an awful lot of time on his paws!
April 19, 2026
Such a good picture book! The illustrations are gorgeous and powerfully accurate in telling and moving the story along. Great discussions for my toddlers and I’m excited to revisit when they are older for deeper discussions.
July 31, 2017
Fun dog!
February 14, 2018
I just love Carl. He is the sweetest Rottie ever. On his sleepy afternoon, he delivered pharmacy drugs, he helped at the Vets, and he saved puppies from a house fire. All in a days work.
April 25, 2018
This was a really great book about a dog, and I love animals, so this book was just a cute and enjoyable book to read!
March 9, 2019
I liked it so much because Carl did NOT have a sleepy afternoon.
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June 5, 2019I love Carl. I remember reading these books when I was a kid.
March 31, 2020
I love how the illustrations tell the story so well, with minimal words.
June 3, 2020
Good art, cute book.
December 30, 2021
What a.cute dog book. What a life.
July 6, 2023
Another Carl book that makes no sense! We laughed our heads off at his antics.
April 21, 2025
Lovable rottweiler, Carl, has an afternoon to himself while mama and child run errands. Instead of having a sleepy afternoon, Carl runs about town to complete his own errands!
December 2, 2014
Carl’s Sleepy Afternoon is published to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Good Dog, Carl. Alexandra Day creates yet another hit featuring the famous Rottweiler named Carl. Getting her idea for this series from photo papers she found in Switzerland, Day used her own dog to model for her illustrations which have become oh-so popular today. In this book about Carl, this curious and quite intelligent dog enjoys a day on the town while his owner is out. Carl goes to the bakery and helped the baker deliver loafs of bread to customers. I guess Carl isn’t as sleepy as his owner thinks, in fact he has a very busy day. Carl makes a delivery for a local pharmacist and much, much more. Readers adore Carl’s realistic face, which the illustrator and author uses to portray emotions and personality. Although many readers are not dogs themselves, they are able to relate to Carl’s mischievous attitude and his longing for adventure. Through the means of Carl, young readers walk up and down the streets and visit many store owners all in one afternoon. The pastel, warm colors make the reader feel comfortable as if they really know Carl! This circular plot begins at home and ends at home. Only the reader knows all of Carl’s adventures, his owner doesn’t have a clue!
August 20, 2008
The pictures in this book are great! The Three Questions is the only book I read with better pictures! This is one book out of a great serious of books. The plot of this book is based an a day in the life of a dog, a dog who was suppose to be sleeping! Ha, Ha! How little did everyone know how much of a help Carl could be!
This would be a good book to introduce different jobs or community workers to young students. Caral helps out or visits many differnt people at their jobs and this could make for a great lesson starter on a whole unit on community workers. Thiws book would also be a great introduction to a story writting activity intitled, "A day in the life of..." After reading this book I could ask the students to then come up with their own story's with the soty starter, "A day in the life of...".
This would be a good book to introduce different jobs or community workers to young students. Caral helps out or visits many differnt people at their jobs and this could make for a great lesson starter on a whole unit on community workers. Thiws book would also be a great introduction to a story writting activity intitled, "A day in the life of..." After reading this book I could ask the students to then come up with their own story's with the soty starter, "A day in the life of...".
July 22, 2014
Unlike Emma Dodd's Dog, who constantly attempts to nap, Carl performs super-heroic acts all around town during his downtime. I'm reminded of the episode "The Psychology of Letting Go" on Community, when Abed had a whole series of adventures in the background, culminating in the delivery of a child.
The bit with Carl posing by his picture in the bookstore window raises a few questions of self-awareness. I never expected the Carl series to break the fourth wall.
The bit with Carl posing by his picture in the bookstore window raises a few questions of self-awareness. I never expected the Carl series to break the fourth wall.
May 15, 2023
Carl's Sleepy Afternoon
Day, Alexandra
Wordless book, showing pictures of a dogs day while he was out instead of at home sleeping. Great book for kindergarten and English as a second language. The book shows how details can be shown in pictures. The story is simple and inspiring for young children to make their own story. The art work is remarkable and realistic. It shows the nature of animals and the people who love them.
Day, Alexandra
Wordless book, showing pictures of a dogs day while he was out instead of at home sleeping. Great book for kindergarten and English as a second language. The book shows how details can be shown in pictures. The story is simple and inspiring for young children to make their own story. The art work is remarkable and realistic. It shows the nature of animals and the people who love them.
August 9, 2012
Like all of the Carl books that I've read, the story is sub-par (neglectful parents have their shortcomings made up for by a super attentive Rottweilier). It's cute in some ways, but not if you think about it too hard (like I just did). But I'm a sucker for beautiful illustrations, and these books have some of the best I've seen. Every page is a cornucopia of beautiful scenery and top-notch watercolor-manship. I would collect these.
August 9, 2016
This is a wonderful book for kids learning to read. They will delight in the fact that the little girl sees Carl all around the town (he is supposed to be at home taking a nap) while mom does not notice him. He is recognized by other adults and kids, however, who enjoy his company and are appreciative of his help. So, in essence, when mom and little girl arrive home and he looks like he has been resting all afternoon he actually was having a very busy time of it!
February 23, 2008
This latest installment in the notable series of Carl books features the friendly Rottweiler visiting a bakery, helping out a veterinarian, joining in a magic trick, saving pups from a fire, and more. Minimal text and detailed, nostalgic watercolor illustrations lend an old-fashioned feel. This will be popular with the Pre-K through first grade set.
August 28, 2013
Such beautiful artwork!
Due to the art and the difficulty a young child might have with locating the actual words I would probably put this at a 2nd grade level, although this would be a good progressive book from either 1st/2nd or 2nd/3rd grades.
Any child could probably look at the art here for hours and just be simply captivated by the beauty.
Due to the art and the difficulty a young child might have with locating the actual words I would probably put this at a 2nd grade level, although this would be a good progressive book from either 1st/2nd or 2nd/3rd grades.
Any child could probably look at the art here for hours and just be simply captivated by the beauty.
September 19, 2016
After reading "Good Dog, Carl". I did not know there was another book based off the same dog. If you liked the first book, you'll love this book! This exciting story shows what Carl is doing during his supposedly sleepy afternoon while his owner and her daughter are out shopping. You'll have to read to find out what he gets into and all the exciting new friends he sees during his afternoon!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews