What do you think?
Rate this book
McGrowl #2
It's a Dog's Life
Thomas and his courageous canine companion are back in this exciting new McGrowl adventure. This time, they're out to solve a mystery involving a series of robberies and a new mayoral candidate.It's election time in Cedar Springs, and the sleepy town is in an uproar. All the fuss isn't just about who will be the new mayor, but about a series of mysterious robberies.It's Thomas and McGrowl to the rescue! The boy-and-dog dream team are on the case, determined to sniff out the truth behind the crimes. Things turn more exciting when Thomas and McGrowl meet Herbert Filbert, the mayoral candidate who seems just a tad bit suspicious. Is the candidate connected to the crimes? And if so, will Thomas and McGrowl be able to stop him before it's too late?
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2003
9 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Bob Balaban
18 books18 followersRobert Elmer "Bob" Balaban (born August 16, 1945) is an American actor, author, producer, and director.
Balaban is the author of a series of six children's novels featuring a bionic dog named McGrowl.
Balaban is the author of a series of six children's novels featuring a bionic dog named McGrowl.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Read
January 29, 2013I am currently reading It’s a Dog’s Life by: Bob Balaban. I am not very far, but I think the theme of this book is facing fears and thankfulness because Mr. Wiggins (the dad) is scared of the dog and wants to never let him around, but Thomas (the kid) wants a dog. He is so happy because he FINALLY found one special dog he gets to keep. Thomas wants his dad to overcome his fear with dogs so the dog can be in the house to roam free with family. Thomas hopes his dad can face his fears so the family can live happily with the dog he found.
December 12, 2021
Mccgrowl is at it again, another case is in the works. I enjoyed this one . A sketchy politician and missing cash ? And a dog show ? What is a super pooch to do ?
Very entertaining real page turner
Very entertaining real page turner
Read
October 21, 2021What is the book about? You don't need to tell the whole story over — just give an idea of what it's about. its about a dog named mcgrowl and its basically like his life, what he does in it.
Do you think other people would like it? yes
What emotions did you feel while reading the book (sad, funny…)? funny, surprised, and its defiantly sometimes a page turner.
Did you learn something from the book? umm... not really cause it was fiction.
Did you think it was interesting? Would you want to read it again? yes i wish there was another book on mcgrowl.
Would you want to read other books by the same author or about the same subject? yes
What was your favorite part? when it was the beginning of the book and there were some guest that came over very rich ones, and mcgrowl jumped for the pie and a whole mess started. i do not know why i like that part i just think it is funny.
Do you think other people would like it? yes
What emotions did you feel while reading the book (sad, funny…)? funny, surprised, and its defiantly sometimes a page turner.
Did you learn something from the book? umm... not really cause it was fiction.
Did you think it was interesting? Would you want to read it again? yes i wish there was another book on mcgrowl.
Would you want to read other books by the same author or about the same subject? yes
What was your favorite part? when it was the beginning of the book and there were some guest that came over very rich ones, and mcgrowl jumped for the pie and a whole mess started. i do not know why i like that part i just think it is funny.
September 5, 2020
I liked the first McGrowl more than this one but it was still a cute and captivating story line. Who can resist a dog with super powers and bumbling bad guys?!
October 28, 2024
Great book
Love the stories
Love the stories
March 23, 2025
2.5⭐
This was a sweet rescue/hero story containing a boy and his dog.
This was a sweet rescue/hero story containing a boy and his dog.
April 18, 2014
Summary:
Thomas and his dog McGrowl are trying to figure out who is trying to capture McGrowl for his bionic super powers. It was also the same day as the dog show that McGrowl and Thomas were entered in, in, if you win the dog show you would get a big silver trophy. Then they fall into a trap that was set up by the man who is running for mayor, Mr. Muchnick. Thomas and Violet fall through his trap literally, they fall ten feet under an old mansion into a pit of slimy snakes. They finally realize that there is a tunnel beside them and they start walking down the tunnel in the darkness. They hear Mr. Muchnick catching up to them because they found out that McGrowl is trying to find Thomas and Violet. The mansion collapses and Mr. Muchnick and his girlfriend go down with it. Luckily McGrowl saved Thomas ans Violet in time for the dog show. Thomas and McGrowl won and received a giant trophy. But Thomas didn't bother telling his parents what happened.
Main Characters:
Thomas is an eleven year old boy that loves to do things with McGrowl. McGrowl is Thomas's dog that has bionic super powers, he can hear things from a mile away, can run faster than a cheetah,etc. Violet is Thomas's best friend and she loves mysteries. Mr. Muchnick is a man who is running for mayor, and he is also a super villein. Mrs. Von Mleck is Mr. Muchnick's apprentice.
Setting:
This story takes place in a quiet town called Cedar Springs.
Conflict:
Mr. Muchnick is running for mayor and if he gets lots of votes then he will get away with taking dog-napping McGrowl. He has also been stealing things from the people of Cedar Springs.
Resolution of conflict:
Mr. Muchnick and Mrs. Von Mleck get trapped under the collapsing mansion, and they cant stealing anything else.
Opinion:
This book was a little boring in the first three or four chapters but got interesting when they fell into the trap. The book doesn't have a very good hook so I give it a three out of five. i recommend this book to kids in fourth grade through sixth grade because the main character Thomas is about the same age so its easier to understand.
Thomas and his dog McGrowl are trying to figure out who is trying to capture McGrowl for his bionic super powers. It was also the same day as the dog show that McGrowl and Thomas were entered in, in, if you win the dog show you would get a big silver trophy. Then they fall into a trap that was set up by the man who is running for mayor, Mr. Muchnick. Thomas and Violet fall through his trap literally, they fall ten feet under an old mansion into a pit of slimy snakes. They finally realize that there is a tunnel beside them and they start walking down the tunnel in the darkness. They hear Mr. Muchnick catching up to them because they found out that McGrowl is trying to find Thomas and Violet. The mansion collapses and Mr. Muchnick and his girlfriend go down with it. Luckily McGrowl saved Thomas ans Violet in time for the dog show. Thomas and McGrowl won and received a giant trophy. But Thomas didn't bother telling his parents what happened.
Main Characters:
Thomas is an eleven year old boy that loves to do things with McGrowl. McGrowl is Thomas's dog that has bionic super powers, he can hear things from a mile away, can run faster than a cheetah,etc. Violet is Thomas's best friend and she loves mysteries. Mr. Muchnick is a man who is running for mayor, and he is also a super villein. Mrs. Von Mleck is Mr. Muchnick's apprentice.
Setting:
This story takes place in a quiet town called Cedar Springs.
Conflict:
Mr. Muchnick is running for mayor and if he gets lots of votes then he will get away with taking dog-napping McGrowl. He has also been stealing things from the people of Cedar Springs.
Resolution of conflict:
Mr. Muchnick and Mrs. Von Mleck get trapped under the collapsing mansion, and they cant stealing anything else.
Opinion:
This book was a little boring in the first three or four chapters but got interesting when they fell into the trap. The book doesn't have a very good hook so I give it a three out of five. i recommend this book to kids in fourth grade through sixth grade because the main character Thomas is about the same age so its easier to understand.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2014
ZIp!!!! My book is ‘’Mr. mcgrowl’’ This book is by bob balaban. This is a scientific Fiction book. The dog in this book is named Mcgrowl, and he has bionics. He can run in lightening speeds and lift heavy things. He is a superhero in dog form. If your reading for fun i recommend that you choose this book.
This dog is a super dog. A golden retriever, personally my favorite dog. He has super hearing, super speed, and super strength, as long as no one interferes with the rays that allow him to be so useful. he can hear from over 10 miles away without trying and most importantly he can connect with his owner through his brain. There is this evil villain that is running for mayor of their little town. No one knows he’s evil except for the kids and Mcgrowl. The kids follow the villain to his hideout and fall into a trap. The land 100 feet below the house. MCgrowl is there only hope to save them. He flies down to the bottom, zips through the darkness and pulls the kids out on less than 10 seconds.
A part in the story that i really liked was when they shot Mr. MCgrowl with a ray gun, that disabled his bionics, until the button is let go of. Even though the dog was weak and could barely move, he still pushed through it to try to get to his owner. That shows how much he loves them. Mcgrowl woke up to the sound of cats, jumped up and knocked the ray gun out of the villains hands and was out the window in a flash.
I really liked this book. It doesn’t take a long time to get to the point. it also keeps you hooked. You can read this over and over and still get excited. I think you should read this book, no matter what genre you prefer.
You should read this book! In my opinion this book is a 5 star book. The writer does a good job of keeping you hooked. Read this book!!
Brice
This dog is a super dog. A golden retriever, personally my favorite dog. He has super hearing, super speed, and super strength, as long as no one interferes with the rays that allow him to be so useful. he can hear from over 10 miles away without trying and most importantly he can connect with his owner through his brain. There is this evil villain that is running for mayor of their little town. No one knows he’s evil except for the kids and Mcgrowl. The kids follow the villain to his hideout and fall into a trap. The land 100 feet below the house. MCgrowl is there only hope to save them. He flies down to the bottom, zips through the darkness and pulls the kids out on less than 10 seconds.
A part in the story that i really liked was when they shot Mr. MCgrowl with a ray gun, that disabled his bionics, until the button is let go of. Even though the dog was weak and could barely move, he still pushed through it to try to get to his owner. That shows how much he loves them. Mcgrowl woke up to the sound of cats, jumped up and knocked the ray gun out of the villains hands and was out the window in a flash.
I really liked this book. It doesn’t take a long time to get to the point. it also keeps you hooked. You can read this over and over and still get excited. I think you should read this book, no matter what genre you prefer.
You should read this book! In my opinion this book is a 5 star book. The writer does a good job of keeping you hooked. Read this book!!
Brice
November 18, 2010
Mcgrowl was an interesting book but i would not request it to anyone to read. The reason why i would not request anyone to read it is because, it’s boring, not a high reading level, and is very easy to guess what’s going to happen next.
This book is not very interesting. to tell you the truth it put me to sleep every night, witch a good book would not due. While reading this book I found that none of the parts where good enough to catch a readers eye. The book was not detailed enough. For real would you want to read a book that’s not going to keep your attention.
Throughout my years reading I have rose on the reading level of books I read. I’ve went from being in special classes to being in honors classes, and through that time my reading level have been with me. This book was not only boring it was not at a high reading level which means the text was meant for younger readers.
Finally, when reading a book I like when you anxious to hear what’s going to happen next. In this book I seriously could guess what was happening next all the way through the book. If that is how a book is suppose to be than there would be no point continuing reading.
So for all you out there that where thinking about reading this book, and have a pretty high reading level, I don’t recommend this book to you.
This book is not very interesting. to tell you the truth it put me to sleep every night, witch a good book would not due. While reading this book I found that none of the parts where good enough to catch a readers eye. The book was not detailed enough. For real would you want to read a book that’s not going to keep your attention.
Throughout my years reading I have rose on the reading level of books I read. I’ve went from being in special classes to being in honors classes, and through that time my reading level have been with me. This book was not only boring it was not at a high reading level which means the text was meant for younger readers.
Finally, when reading a book I like when you anxious to hear what’s going to happen next. In this book I seriously could guess what was happening next all the way through the book. If that is how a book is suppose to be than there would be no point continuing reading.
So for all you out there that where thinking about reading this book, and have a pretty high reading level, I don’t recommend this book to you.
Read
April 9, 2013This book was absolutely awful! It was very badly written and at times made me cringe at the way the story was so over the top and a bit stupid. The dog's character is awful and the plot is ridiculously tedious. The baddies are a complete joke - do not ever read this book as it is not worth the paper it is printed on! Utter rubbish which is why i give it 0 stars!
July 7, 2009
Not my favorite book. It was tedious and overwritten. Even my daughter and my husband couldn't wait for this book to end. None of us would have finished it if it had not been assigned as summer reading. Ugh!
September 4, 2009
this book is okay . its about this kid that has this a dog with super powers, and this man moves into their neighborhood and they think he is acting weird . they go and investigate and fond out he is their arch enemy Von Vleck . Mcgrowl uses his powers to protect the city and wins !!!
January 20, 2015
So far it is a very goo book it is about a boy and His bionic dog. it always seams like there is always a problem going on. But people want to capture the dog to uses him for evil thing. They enter a dog show...
January 30, 2013
it was awesome
Read
December 28, 2013AR Quiz No. 71271 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: MG - BL: 6.1 - AR Pts: 4.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: MG - BL: 6.1 - AR Pts: 4.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP
August 17, 2015
I love this series. I've been reading it since middle school so of course I loved this book!
Want to read
January 16, 2010I like dogs alot, and I'm looking foward to check it out, next time I'm gonna go to the library.
March 11, 2011
It was a very good book I was glad that Mcgrowl won the Dog Show.
November 18, 2015
what a great book
Want to read
April 18, 2017I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14505188
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14505188
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews