The Backward Bird Dog

by Bill Wallace

What's a Bird Dog to Do?
Everyone knows a bird dog leads with his nose. Everyone but J.C. After all, what's a pup supposed to think when he's welcomed to his new home by a cat who thwacks him on the nose with his claws...a dog who bites him on the nose...a bee sting on his you-know-what and a mad mamma bird who attacks the sorest part of his body with her beak? Poor J.C. All he wants is love...cuddling up to My Justin...a good tummy-scratching by My Bill and My Carol. J.C. wants to make his new family proud. But how can he point with a nose everyone wants to attack? There must be a better way...

Genres: Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Dogs, Humor

112 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1997

About the author

Bill Wallace was an American teacher and later an author of children's books. He started writing to quiet down his fourth grade students, who loved his stories and encouraged him to make “real” books.

Bill Wallace grew up in Oklahoma. Along with riding their horses, he and his friends enjoyed campouts and fishing trips. Toasting marshmallows, telling ghost stories to scare one another, and catching fish was always fun.

Bill Wallace has won numerous children's state awards and been awarded the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award for Children's Literature from the Oklahoma Center for the Book.

Bill Wallace died from Lung cancer on January 30, 2012.

Former elementary school teacher; West Elementary School, Chickasha, OK, principal, since 1977, and physical education teacher. Speaker at schools and universities in various states, including State University of New York and University of South Florida.

AWARDS:

Bluebonnet Award from Texas Association of School Librarians and Children's Round Table and Sequoyah Children's Book Award from Oklahoma State Department of Education, both 1983, Central Missouri State University Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 1984, and Nebraska Golden Sowers Award from Nebraska Library Association, 1985, all for A Dog Called Kitty; Central Missouri State University Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 1984, and Pine Tree Book Award, 1985, both for Trapped in Death Cave.

Reviews

[Anne Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful YA book tells the tale of a pointer from the time he's a puppy still with his mother to the time he demonstrates he can be a good bird dog for a hunter. The cute thing about it is that it's told from the viewpoint of the dog, who relates things such as accidentally falling into the "huge drinking bowl" (aka swimming pool) and almost drowning and not understanding why his People wash off the marvelous smell he has after rolling around on a dead animal.

The wrinkle is that when he's sent back to the breeder to be trained as a hunting dog, the trainer declares that he can't point. But he can! It's just that some of his experiences as a young dog lead him to point in other than the usual manner.

You will cheer for the dog, JC, when one of his People figures it out.

[Ryan Daley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was kind of chaotic in the beginning, but it had a really sweet ending.

[Kirstin R Shultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the backward bird dog.

I like the backward bird dog because it's a good story about a dog.I think it is a good book.

[Mitchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book! I read it when I was in thrid grade and I loved it! It's a book that I think even older kids might like. It depends on their interests, I suppose. Who knows? Maybe you'll like it.

[Jacob Hibbard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve liked Bill Wallace since I was a kid, not only because he’s from my hometown, but because he writes fun and humorous stories like The Backward Bird Dog. The writing is Children’s to lower Middle Grade, so it can be a little straightforward. Though by the end it is hard not to fall in love with this quirky, backwards dog. The humorous ending and final feeling of Pride for J.C. always makes this amusing read worth while.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this sweet book together with my 7 year old. He enjoyed the adventures of the puppy, JC. It is a bit dated and I had to explain a few concepts like the waterbed. He seemed to like how the ending connected the events from the rest of the book together.

[LaRae Steen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy Birthday Bill Wallace -- August 1, 1947

[Jean Alfieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the trials and tribulations … kids of any age can relate! An adorable pup and story to match.

[Brandi Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites from my childhood. I just read it to my son.

[Zachary Tyrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a funny book about what dogs might think about humans

[Mr. Mustela frenata · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.62

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This rating is based on my childhood love for this book, because I'll admit I haven't read it in years. Yet it and all the other Wallace books I collected in grade school still sit on my shelf. The Backwards Bird Dog is perhaps the most beat-up book I own, simply because I read and re-read it that much. Definitely my favorite book as a kid...I mean, it's an adorable dog, who realizes that just because he's different doesn't mean he's a let-down. What's not to love?

[Colette Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dog lovers delight. Had my kids laughing and guessing and delighted until the end. The fact that the author actually had a puppy named J.C. was icing on the cake for them. I know we'll reference this story for a long, long time,... particularly during the summer when we play in the big drinking bowl in the backyard.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

that was so funnie

[Abi]

An awesome book!

[Kathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny--the kids loved it.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute story told from a lovable puppy's perspective. I giggled at the "surpise" ending.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In depth look at life of a puppy.