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How to Be a Good Dog
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Bobo really wants to be a good dog. It's just that being good takes so much effort. When his owner finally has enough and sends him packing, it's silent Cat who misses him the most. Armed with a how-to book and quiet determination, Cat begins to instruct Bobo in proper dog etiquette. Shake, fetch, and roll over all go well. But can Cat really turn this incorrigible canine around?
Drenched in cotton-candy colors and brimming with whimsical details, Bobo proves a fact all dog lovers nobody can resist a good dog, even when he's bad!
Reviews
"Bobo, the great galumphing hound in Gail Page's How to Be a Good Dog is the canine Oscar Madison. . . .Pale and plump with a single black spot, Bobo has a Thurber-esque squishiness in Page's cartoonlike acrylics. His eyes are never more than two tiny dots, but they're endlessly expressive. How the author accomplishes this I can't say. But it seems to be an unwritten law that in the world of children's books, the larger the dog, the smaller the eyes, and vise versa." - New York Times Book Review , children's feature issue
"The pictures [in this book] are pleasing and, to my eye, beautiful. At the same time, they're genuinely funny. This, to me, is the best thing possible. And it's hard to do."---Daniel Pinkwater on NPR's Weekend Edition, Saturday, Feb 11th. To read more on the How to Be a Good Dog feature, click here.
"The quirky humor in the brief text is matched by the funny antics of the floppy canine in the illustrations as he tries to be a good dog, but always in his own way." - Kirkus Reviews
"This lively tale of a good-hearted canine and his kindly cat friend gets its charm from its bold and colorful illustrations...But it is the story, told in plain, simple, unembellished words that any child can understand, that grabs your heart and won't let go." - Curled Up With A Good Book
"The large acrylic paintings with cartoon figures and the simp
Bobo really wants to be a good dog. It's just that being good takes so much effort. When his owner finally has enough and sends him packing, it's silent Cat who misses him the most. Armed with a how-to book and quiet determination, Cat begins to instruct Bobo in proper dog etiquette. Shake, fetch, and roll over all go well. But can Cat really turn this incorrigible canine around?
Drenched in cotton-candy colors and brimming with whimsical details, Bobo proves a fact all dog lovers nobody can resist a good dog, even when he's bad!
Reviews
"Bobo, the great galumphing hound in Gail Page's How to Be a Good Dog is the canine Oscar Madison. . . .Pale and plump with a single black spot, Bobo has a Thurber-esque squishiness in Page's cartoonlike acrylics. His eyes are never more than two tiny dots, but they're endlessly expressive. How the author accomplishes this I can't say. But it seems to be an unwritten law that in the world of children's books, the larger the dog, the smaller the eyes, and vise versa." - New York Times Book Review , children's feature issue
"The pictures [in this book] are pleasing and, to my eye, beautiful. At the same time, they're genuinely funny. This, to me, is the best thing possible. And it's hard to do."---Daniel Pinkwater on NPR's Weekend Edition, Saturday, Feb 11th. To read more on the How to Be a Good Dog feature, click here.
"The quirky humor in the brief text is matched by the funny antics of the floppy canine in the illustrations as he tries to be a good dog, but always in his own way." - Kirkus Reviews
"This lively tale of a good-hearted canine and his kindly cat friend gets its charm from its bold and colorful illustrations...But it is the story, told in plain, simple, unembellished words that any child can understand, that grabs your heart and won't let go." - Curled Up With A Good Book
"The large acrylic paintings with cartoon figures and the simp
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2006
1 person is currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 14, 2024
Bobo tries his best to be a good dog for Mrs. Birdhead, but try as he might it isn't easy. So, Cat decides to help Bobo become a good dog, by teaching how to shake, sit, lie down, roll over, heel, and fetch. When Bobo gets a chance to demonstrate to Mrs. Birdhead what he has learned, he amazes Cat, Mrs. Birdhead, and himself.
June 27, 2021
He needs to be a good dog forever.
December 16, 2021
My four year old said, "That was good. Let's read it again."
April 26, 2022
Simple, silly, and short. Perfect read aloud for very young listeners.
February 5, 2014
Horn Book (Fall 2006)
Bobo loved to hear Mrs. Birdhead say, "You're a good dog, Bobo"--but Bobo's natural exuberance gets him banished to the dog house, until Cat takes a hand in his training. Broadly emotive illustrations of the anthropomorphized hound cavorting in open expanses of color employ a child-friendly simplicity of line while humorously reinterpreting the text's "Sit!" and "Stay!"
Kirkus Reviews (March 15, 2006)
Bobo is a large, white dog with a big, black nose who lives a pampered life alongside his fellow pet, a well-behaved cat who wears a proper apron when washing dishes. Their owner, Mrs. Birdhead (who inexplicably wears a nesting bird strapped to her head) has failed to train her dog in the rudiments of indoor behavior. When Bobo continually misbehaves, he is banished to the backyard, and the cat attempts to end their unhappy separation by giving Bobo obedience lessons. The standard obedience school commands are interpreted with amusing results, as Bobo's idea of "sit" is lounging in a comfy chair and "heel" means literally kicking up his heels. Children will enjoy the humorous sight of Bobo in his pajamas practicing "lie down" and "roll over" in his own four-poster bed, as the cat reads instructions from a dog-obedience guidebook. The quirky humor in the brief text is matched by the funny antics of the floppy canine in the illustrations as he tries to be a good dog, but always in his own way. (Picture book. 3-5)
Publishers Weekly (August 27, 2007)
Cat secretly works to teach Bobo the dog some good manners before he is relegated to the doghouse once again. Page's debut, wrote PW, "closely resembles Daniel Pinkwater's `bad bears' picture books." Ages 3-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
Publishers Weekly (March 6, 2006)
In this variation on the old feline/canine rivalry, Cat secretly works with Bobo the dog to refine his slovenly habits. Bobo belongs to Mrs. Birdhead, whose nest-like hat and its purple-feathered occupant balance primly on her auburn pageboy 'do. Bobo seems half-pet, half-person: he walks upright, tracks food all over the floor and chews on a book labeled "homework" (although there are no children present). His buffoonery lands him in the doghouse, where he mopes until Mrs. Birdhead goes shopping, and Cat surreptitiously trains him. Their "fetch" lesson goes awry when Cat throws a ball into the house, but "heel turn[s] out to be very handy" when Cat boosts Bobo through the window to retrieve the ball. Indoors, Bobo does yoga "sit" postures and practices "lie down" in bed. What Bobo lacks in manners, he makes up for in enthusiasm, and before Mrs. Birdhead can banish him again, Bobo struts his new stuff and wins a reprieve. Page's debut closely resembles Pinkwater's "bad bears" picture books in its pratfalls and amateurish visuals. In the mushy acrylic images, Bobo appears to be formed from a lump of grayish-white clay. His malleable, clumsily shaped body stretches to emphasize his clown-plus-canine qualities, and he lends gusto to the otherwise lukewarm custard-colored pages. Ages 3-8. (Apr.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal (June 1, 2006)
PreS-Gr 2-Bobo is a big white dog who "tried hard to be a good." He loves to hear his owner praise him, and he anticipates the tasty treat that follows. Unfortunately, he also reads with his feet on the table, makes a mess while eating on the sofa, and leaves paw prints all over the house, so he is sent outside to the doghouse. To work his way back inside, he takes lessons from the cat on how to "shake," "fetch," and "heel." When Mrs. Birdhead returns from grocery shopping, Bobo, excited to show her his tricks, bounds down the stairs, sending groceries flying. The angular lines of Cat and Mrs. Birdhead are contrasted with Bobo's soft roundness, while pastel hues dominate. The large acrylic paintings with cartoon figures and the simple text make this a good choice to share with groups of young children.-DeAnn Okamura, San Anselmo Public Library, CA PECK, Jan. Way Far Away on a Wild Safari. illus. by Valeria Petrone. unpaged. S & S. June 2006. RTE $15.95. ISBN 1-4169-0072-1. LC number unavailable. PreS-K-Following on the heels of Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea (2004) and Way Up High in a Tall Green Tree (2005, both S & S), Peck and Petrone feature a pith-helmeted boy visiting the animals of the African savannah. Each spread focuses on one animal with six rhythmic, patterned lines of text featuring an action the creature is taking (sloshing, spying, roaring, zigzagging, etc). In the end, the animals are revealed to be cookies baked by Grandma. The full-color illustrations are digitally rendered in bold lines and bright colors. Although there is little dramatic action, readers looking for books with a safari theme or for African animals will find adventure enough in the cozy cadences of these vignettes.-Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Bobo loved to hear Mrs. Birdhead say, "You're a good dog, Bobo"--but Bobo's natural exuberance gets him banished to the dog house, until Cat takes a hand in his training. Broadly emotive illustrations of the anthropomorphized hound cavorting in open expanses of color employ a child-friendly simplicity of line while humorously reinterpreting the text's "Sit!" and "Stay!"
Kirkus Reviews (March 15, 2006)
Bobo is a large, white dog with a big, black nose who lives a pampered life alongside his fellow pet, a well-behaved cat who wears a proper apron when washing dishes. Their owner, Mrs. Birdhead (who inexplicably wears a nesting bird strapped to her head) has failed to train her dog in the rudiments of indoor behavior. When Bobo continually misbehaves, he is banished to the backyard, and the cat attempts to end their unhappy separation by giving Bobo obedience lessons. The standard obedience school commands are interpreted with amusing results, as Bobo's idea of "sit" is lounging in a comfy chair and "heel" means literally kicking up his heels. Children will enjoy the humorous sight of Bobo in his pajamas practicing "lie down" and "roll over" in his own four-poster bed, as the cat reads instructions from a dog-obedience guidebook. The quirky humor in the brief text is matched by the funny antics of the floppy canine in the illustrations as he tries to be a good dog, but always in his own way. (Picture book. 3-5)
Publishers Weekly (August 27, 2007)
Cat secretly works to teach Bobo the dog some good manners before he is relegated to the doghouse once again. Page's debut, wrote PW, "closely resembles Daniel Pinkwater's `bad bears' picture books." Ages 3-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
Publishers Weekly (March 6, 2006)
In this variation on the old feline/canine rivalry, Cat secretly works with Bobo the dog to refine his slovenly habits. Bobo belongs to Mrs. Birdhead, whose nest-like hat and its purple-feathered occupant balance primly on her auburn pageboy 'do. Bobo seems half-pet, half-person: he walks upright, tracks food all over the floor and chews on a book labeled "homework" (although there are no children present). His buffoonery lands him in the doghouse, where he mopes until Mrs. Birdhead goes shopping, and Cat surreptitiously trains him. Their "fetch" lesson goes awry when Cat throws a ball into the house, but "heel turn[s] out to be very handy" when Cat boosts Bobo through the window to retrieve the ball. Indoors, Bobo does yoga "sit" postures and practices "lie down" in bed. What Bobo lacks in manners, he makes up for in enthusiasm, and before Mrs. Birdhead can banish him again, Bobo struts his new stuff and wins a reprieve. Page's debut closely resembles Pinkwater's "bad bears" picture books in its pratfalls and amateurish visuals. In the mushy acrylic images, Bobo appears to be formed from a lump of grayish-white clay. His malleable, clumsily shaped body stretches to emphasize his clown-plus-canine qualities, and he lends gusto to the otherwise lukewarm custard-colored pages. Ages 3-8. (Apr.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal (June 1, 2006)
PreS-Gr 2-Bobo is a big white dog who "tried hard to be a good." He loves to hear his owner praise him, and he anticipates the tasty treat that follows. Unfortunately, he also reads with his feet on the table, makes a mess while eating on the sofa, and leaves paw prints all over the house, so he is sent outside to the doghouse. To work his way back inside, he takes lessons from the cat on how to "shake," "fetch," and "heel." When Mrs. Birdhead returns from grocery shopping, Bobo, excited to show her his tricks, bounds down the stairs, sending groceries flying. The angular lines of Cat and Mrs. Birdhead are contrasted with Bobo's soft roundness, while pastel hues dominate. The large acrylic paintings with cartoon figures and the simple text make this a good choice to share with groups of young children.-DeAnn Okamura, San Anselmo Public Library, CA PECK, Jan. Way Far Away on a Wild Safari. illus. by Valeria Petrone. unpaged. S & S. June 2006. RTE $15.95. ISBN 1-4169-0072-1. LC number unavailable. PreS-K-Following on the heels of Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea (2004) and Way Up High in a Tall Green Tree (2005, both S & S), Peck and Petrone feature a pith-helmeted boy visiting the animals of the African savannah. Each spread focuses on one animal with six rhythmic, patterned lines of text featuring an action the creature is taking (sloshing, spying, roaring, zigzagging, etc). In the end, the animals are revealed to be cookies baked by Grandma. The full-color illustrations are digitally rendered in bold lines and bright colors. Although there is little dramatic action, readers looking for books with a safari theme or for African animals will find adventure enough in the cozy cadences of these vignettes.-Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2014
Grade Level: Kindergarten
This book is aimed towards younger kids because the font is larger and the pictures are simple and all labeled. Bobo is a dog who wants nothing more than to be a good dog but often times find him stuck outside in trouble. The cat misses him and wants him to be allowed back in the house, so she teaches him tricks to be a good dog like sit, roll over, and lay down and so on. Bobo’s owner comes home from the grocery store, and although Bobo made a mess as she walking in, she was impressed with the dog’s tricks, called him a good dog and he was allowed back in the house. I liked this book because it shows the importance of telling animals (and make the parallel to students) that the good things they do are good. If the bad things are the only things ever pointed out, it is often discouraging and it will be hard for the student to want to do better and advance in certain areas. This would be a great book to read-aloud to kindergarteners and maybe first or second grade.
This book is aimed towards younger kids because the font is larger and the pictures are simple and all labeled. Bobo is a dog who wants nothing more than to be a good dog but often times find him stuck outside in trouble. The cat misses him and wants him to be allowed back in the house, so she teaches him tricks to be a good dog like sit, roll over, and lay down and so on. Bobo’s owner comes home from the grocery store, and although Bobo made a mess as she walking in, she was impressed with the dog’s tricks, called him a good dog and he was allowed back in the house. I liked this book because it shows the importance of telling animals (and make the parallel to students) that the good things they do are good. If the bad things are the only things ever pointed out, it is often discouraging and it will be hard for the student to want to do better and advance in certain areas. This would be a great book to read-aloud to kindergarteners and maybe first or second grade.
January 28, 2016
I got this book because I have a new puppy who desperately needs to become a Good Dog. (Please note the caps). So I read this to him, but he chewed on the cover throughout and slobbered on the pictures. I don't think he got the point.
Of course the point was that this dog in the book isn't a good dog at all, so perhaps this wasn't the best choice, as it could well be that Jack (my puppy) wasn't going to learn anything constructive to begin with. But then the book got a bit better by the end, though I'm still not fully convinced that the dog in the book is a good dog exactly. And judging from the sheer number of missing socks there are in the household right now, I don't think my dog is any better for having been read to.
Well, I tried. and it's a cute book. Just don't expect it to train your dog for you. I think you're going to have to do that yourself.
Of course the point was that this dog in the book isn't a good dog at all, so perhaps this wasn't the best choice, as it could well be that Jack (my puppy) wasn't going to learn anything constructive to begin with. But then the book got a bit better by the end, though I'm still not fully convinced that the dog in the book is a good dog exactly. And judging from the sheer number of missing socks there are in the household right now, I don't think my dog is any better for having been read to.
Well, I tried. and it's a cute book. Just don't expect it to train your dog for you. I think you're going to have to do that yourself.
February 1, 2016
This book was a cute little story about a dog learning how to become a "good dog". The author used simple, easy to understand language that most children could understand. The illustrations were not realistic, but I think that almost made it better. To me, it seemed as if the story was inside a child's mind because of the way the illustrator illustrated the book. This was a feel-good book.
If I were to use this in a classroom, I could use it for a few different lessons. This book had a lesson about friendship, about listening, and about forgiveness. There are plenty of ways this book could teach valuable lessons to students.
If I were to use this in a classroom, I could use it for a few different lessons. This book had a lesson about friendship, about listening, and about forgiveness. There are plenty of ways this book could teach valuable lessons to students.
August 1, 2010
Illustrator: Gail Page
Age: 4-8
Summary: A dog has been put out of the house for misbehaving and the house cat decides to teach him everything he needs to know about being a good dog.
Applications/Uses: Entertainment, if a student/child is getting a dog it might be a good idea to read it so they know what to expect a "good dog" to be able to do?
Themes/Connections: Relationship between cat/dog, humor
Awards: None
Age: 4-8
Summary: A dog has been put out of the house for misbehaving and the house cat decides to teach him everything he needs to know about being a good dog.
Applications/Uses: Entertainment, if a student/child is getting a dog it might be a good idea to read it so they know what to expect a "good dog" to be able to do?
Themes/Connections: Relationship between cat/dog, humor
Awards: None
June 5, 2013
This book has a good concept--the cat helps the dog learn to be good so the dog can stay with the family permanently. The dog is drawn as a lovable fellow, too. For me, though, the book as a whole doesn't work, because of some of the background colors, which seem to me to have a distinctly grayish cast and make the book feel flat and lifeless.
August 19, 2010
Cute illustrations, but a story about a crazy, mixed-up, odd family made up of an obnoxious cat (who has no name), a endearing dog named Bobo, and woman who wears a bird on her head...hence her name, Mrs. Birdhead.
July 20, 2016
Some parts were really quite funny. A cat teaching a dog to sit? Heel? Funny. But then you add in the confusion of heel-means-to-follow and heel-means-where-foot-and-let-join, and the joke is over the head of the preschooler. And the jokes were a little inconsistent for me. So, overall, okay.
October 12, 2013
this was a great story that both of my children enjoyed, i think that this book had great and very colorful illustrations. I felt that it was a good book to help with kids expanding their imagination and lessons of getting along with others especially brothers and sisters.
April 22, 2008
We've gotten this story from the library in the past, but it looks so appealing on the outside that we sometimes pick it up again. It's a cute story and holds the children's interest.
July 6, 2008
Okay book, kind of funny but didn't love it. Does a fun job showing different tricks dogs can learn to do. The interaction between the dog and cat was pretty cute.
November 24, 2008
I always appreciate a book that shows how utterly superior cats are to dogs :)
December 22, 2019
This picture book was really well done. It has simple language and short sentences, not to mention great art. I really liked all the one-word bits, like Sit! Stay! and so on. Kids love that!
Want to read
October 25, 2009we're all about dogs right now, got Carson recently, new golden retriever...cute book.
Read
March 14, 2013It is about being a pet, but very funny and I put the other bob book in funny, so . . .
September 6, 2015
I used this to introduce the idea of how to be a good student.
Check out the discussion questions here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_6T...
Check out the discussion questions here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_6T...
Read
March 14, 2018This is a funny story of a cat teaching to a dog how to be the ideal dog. I would have the class reading this book as an entertainment or if they have pets.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews