Follow Carl!

Good Dog, Carl #9

by Alexandra Day

Carl is back in his ninth adventure!

Children barking at a squirrel in a tree? Carrying sticks in their mouths? Begging for food? Who could be responsible for such silly shenanigans except everybody's favorite baby-sitter, Carl, who takes a group of neighborhood children on a lively game of Follow the Leader. Readers will want to follow Carl's exploits through town and country again and again, and Alexandra Day's lush autumnal landscapes are the perfect setting for the funny goings-on in the game.

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

Hardcover

First published September 11, 1998

About the author

Alexandra 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.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book!

[Book2Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Carl books by Alexandra Day. Not a lot of words (just enough to get the story to begin and end), but lots of "adventure" and fun. I always have an ear to ear smile on my face while reading the Carl books. Looking closely at every illustration so I don't miss anything. Your kids will love these too.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is cute. The little girl and the neighborhood kids imitate Carl in a game of Follow the Leader, doing both regular human things and dog-related things. Because they're together in a group, this is charming without the usual danger factors.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son’s interests switched to cars and giraffes so he is not into the Carl books.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this is a sub-version of the Carl at the park book. Still a totally essential book, but doesn't feel as unique as the others in its theme.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved the Carl books since I first saw them years ago, and have given several as gifts. My daughter likes them for her international friends because there are very few words. The pictures tell the story in any language. Carl is a big, lovable rottweiler who is often called upon to take care of the baby of the house. In Follow Carl!, Carl and the baby are napping when the neighborhood children come to the window and suggest playing follow the leader with Carl as leader. The children do some very decidedly dog-like behaviors. The stretch like Carl, jump over the brook like Carl, carry sticks in their mouths like Carl. Later, when the baby's mother peeks into the bedroom, she finds both Carl and the baby stretched out on the bed on their backs, while a bunch of children are lying on their backs on the floor. The pictures are beautifully colored and tell a story of carefree childhood fun.

[Kaitlyn Canerday · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute book with excellent illustrations. Although it only had one sentence in it, it was still worth looking at. Small children will love it because of its cover to cover illustrations. In the book, a girl asks Carl (the Rottweiler) if he wants to be the leader in a game of follow the leader. The children follow Carl all over town. They beg for treats outside the store and several other things that dogs do. By the end, they have followed carl home and they all take a nap.
I think it is very important to teach young children how to read and encourage them to do so. However, often times it is forgotten that children should be able to analyze images as well. This book helps a child to do so. Without the guidance of written words, the child must be able to follow the pictures and determine what is going on within the book. This book is an excellent practice of that (and it will also give a child a break from the everyday written book.)

[Charity Yost Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids' favorite Carl book so far. I like all the Carl books we've read 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.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the antics of Carl. In this one the children ask him to be leader in a game of follow the leader. My kind of game when I was little. What fun to be a dog for a day! As per usual the illustrations are lovely, sweet, and a salute to simpler times.

[The Book Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute picture book. Review to come.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommendation from Simply Charlotte Mason for enduring, living books for preschoolers.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite possibly my favorite book about this loyal but adventurous Rottweiler.

[Danielle T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carl gathers a group of kids and wanders in a park, encouraging the kids to copy him doing things. Hijinks, but not anything particularly dangerous.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow Carl is set up on the first page by the kids asking Carl, the dog, to play follow the leader with them and he is the leader. Those are the only words throughout the story. Carl the stretches them, takes them on a walk, gets them a snack, chases a squirrel up a tree, etc. The children and dog in the end are very worn out and all take a nap.
The picture sin this book are beautiful. I always like the Carl books for how realistic and beautifully the artwork is done in them. The book doesn't need words. In fact, I think words might get in the way of the story in Carl series.
I would recommend this book to preschool to young elementary. I would also recommend this book to early writers and have them write the story of what is happening. Early education teachers can use this idea. Art teachers could also use this book to help point out details in the artwork. With no words, art students would be less distracted and would be able to focus on the words more.
Carl books are so much fun to read and look at, and really, for a dog, he is a pretty good babysitter.

[Kelsi Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! The artwork was so beautiful- overall I thought that the illustrations were one of the best features of the story. The artwork I believe is watercolor and so colorful- I just kept wanting more artwork! I loved that it was a wordless picture book and that it was easy to create words to go along with the beautiful artwork. I felt very happy reading this book and it was easy to follow. I think that young children would thoroughly enjoy looking through it. I loved that it was about a dog as most people love dogs it is easy to relate to our lives. It also focuses on the game follow the leader which is a common game among children and with a dog participating in the game it really makes it a fun book to get to look at, create words, and enjoy the artwork! I would highly suggest this for younger students!

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is one in the series about a dog named Carl. In this story of the series, the children of the neighborhood have asked Carl to come out and play the game follow the leader. So, Carl leads them in a game of follow the leader around the community they live in. They do not just do things that humans usually do, but also dog activities, such as fetching sticks. This was a cute book, it would definitely not be a read aloud for older kids, but you could use this in a early elementary or preschool classroom, to talk about animals, and talk about things that animals do that humans don't and vice versa.

[Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The notion of interrupting naptime irritates me on some deep fundamental level. But the adventure that results from this disruption of the schedule Carl's owner is attempting to maintain makes it all worthwhile. It's delightful to watch, through beautifully detailed illustrations, Carl teaching the neighborhood rascals how to busk for food and various yoga poses such as downward facing dog and hydrant leg. By the end of the day, the neighborhood scallywags have learned to tap into a deep primal existence under Carl's zen master tutelage. After treeing a squirrel, I too would embrace a peaceful Nirvana-like slumber as an enlightened being.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture is truly worth a thousand words in Alexandra Day's books about lovable Carl. Text appears only on the first page of the story to set up the scene, but from there on the story is entirely visual. The beautiful two-page spreads realistically depict not only the action of the story but also the background and landscape surrounding the focal points. The action is advanced sans dialogue through Day's effective use of images. Readers will spend hours poring over the pictures, using their imaginations to construct their own version of the story.

[Jenna West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very cute! I loved seeing the children follow Carl, the dog, and copy things he does. This book shows the love that dogs have for their family and throughout the book, Carl makes sure the youngest girl was being taken care of. As a dog lover, this book was touching! Silly for kids too, to see the kids in the book copy things that dogs do.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warmhearted account of young children mimicking Carl on their romp through the woods, including in the cover illustration with both Carl and a young girl running with their tongues hanging out. This isn't madcap like some of day's other Carl books, but this one seems to hit the right balance.

[SARAH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carl, the dog, is the leader and all the children follow what he does. Fantastic illustrations and fun book.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely illustrated, but I always have trouble with Carl leading children away from adult supervision.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follow Carl!
Day, Alexandra
a wordless picture story about the story of a dog

[Miss Kious · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kids play follow the leader with Carl.

[Laura Haske · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are beautiful, the concept is cute, but my husband was really disturbed that our son might learn to follow rottweilers around. He has dog prejudices, what can I say?

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ages 2 and up. A great wordless book where children can practice their narrative skills and story telling. Also a story that encourages playing.

[Meg McGregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carl is the babysitter every Mom wants and needs!

In this story, Carl, Madeline and Madeleine's friends play follow the leader - with Carl as the leader! Great fun!

[Cory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! I love this story because of its immense simplicity. Carl is an inspirational dog that is fun to play with and create memories with. This is a great book with a fen story.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picture book: Children playing outside, chasing a squirrel..Follow the Leader....the babysitter is Carl the dog!
Ways to use the book: Pleasure reading

[Destiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book! I like the idea of the children following the dog. It's a silly game of follow the leader that all kids know and added a new twist that is both interesting and fun.