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Memoirs #6
Memoirs of A Dog
Topanga the dog gets blamed for everything, but she's here to tell you that the only reason the household works at all is because she's the one in charge. Topanga wakes the family up, takes Big Guy for a run, gets the kids off to school on time, and chases off that trouble-making raccoon. And that's not all! Will Topanga's family ever realize what a giant role she plays in their lives? Maybe not before it's time for her to go back to bed, she has another big day tomorrow after all. From the author and illustrator team behind the bestselling MEMOIRS books from Sleeping Bear Press.
37 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2024
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 27, 2024
Topanga is a beloved family dog who always seems to be in trouble. However, looks are deceiving. Topanga's objective is to keeping the household running smoothly, for example, waking up Lady, making sure Big Guy gets his morning run, helping Ponytail find her tights, and so much more. This is an entertaining picture book, but for dog owners, a sweet ode to the special dogs in their lives.
October 24, 2024
I'm so happy to see another book from Devin and Tim. They make a great team and always produce perfect picture books. This one is wonderful. It's so cute, so heartwarming, and so funny.
Everyone knows kids like dogs, but they will all fall in love with Topanga. As soon as the sun comes up at 6:30 AM. he licks Lady's face, and she groans, "Topanga." He's got a household to run. He rouses his family each morning and gets them all on their way. With Lady (Mom), Big Guy (Dad), and four kids (including a crying baby), this family would be in big trouble if Topanga wasn't there to keep a watchful eye on things.
Readers will enjoy seeing life through the eyes of a dog as they turn the pages. I love how Devin takes us through the day. At 7:00 AM, Toganga hears the Big Guy yell, “TOPANGA! Let’s go, you lazy dog!” He thinks, Lazy? What? This page is so funny. It’s chilly and rainy, but Topanga thinks Big Guy needs me to run with him. It’s up to me to keep him moving, even in the rain. Let’s go, Pops! And he drags poor Dad through the puddles.
Kids will roll around laughing while their parents laugh out loud when Topanga calls the new baby "Poop-and-Cry" and entertains the baby, prevents a kitchen fire, and later warns off a bully dog chasing one of the kids returning home from school. He even scares off a raccoon drumming through the trash can out back. Tim created a great illustration of the fleeing raccoon jumping over the fence with a dirty diaper clutched in his jaws. At the end of the day, when the baby decides to say her first word, it is no surprise whose name is uttered.
There are so many details in the illustrations to savor that each time the reader picks up the book, they will find something new. Love how Tim Bowers found a way to add the mischievous raccoon tiptoeing across the top of the fence while Toganga slept. I have my fingers crossed that Devin will come up with another book to add to this Memoirs Series. Maybe Memoirs of a Raccoon, since he was so cute and mischievous.
Everyone knows kids like dogs, but they will all fall in love with Topanga. As soon as the sun comes up at 6:30 AM. he licks Lady's face, and she groans, "Topanga." He's got a household to run. He rouses his family each morning and gets them all on their way. With Lady (Mom), Big Guy (Dad), and four kids (including a crying baby), this family would be in big trouble if Topanga wasn't there to keep a watchful eye on things.
Readers will enjoy seeing life through the eyes of a dog as they turn the pages. I love how Devin takes us through the day. At 7:00 AM, Toganga hears the Big Guy yell, “TOPANGA! Let’s go, you lazy dog!” He thinks, Lazy? What? This page is so funny. It’s chilly and rainy, but Topanga thinks Big Guy needs me to run with him. It’s up to me to keep him moving, even in the rain. Let’s go, Pops! And he drags poor Dad through the puddles.
Kids will roll around laughing while their parents laugh out loud when Topanga calls the new baby "Poop-and-Cry" and entertains the baby, prevents a kitchen fire, and later warns off a bully dog chasing one of the kids returning home from school. He even scares off a raccoon drumming through the trash can out back. Tim created a great illustration of the fleeing raccoon jumping over the fence with a dirty diaper clutched in his jaws. At the end of the day, when the baby decides to say her first word, it is no surprise whose name is uttered.
There are so many details in the illustrations to savor that each time the reader picks up the book, they will find something new. Love how Tim Bowers found a way to add the mischievous raccoon tiptoeing across the top of the fence while Toganga slept. I have my fingers crossed that Devin will come up with another book to add to this Memoirs Series. Maybe Memoirs of a Raccoon, since he was so cute and mischievous.
February 8, 2025
The 5th book in the series of "Memoirs of" (an animal).
Meet Topanga. She keeps her house in order with her internal clock that reminds her what to do when - whether to wake up Lady, take Big Guy out for a run, find Ponytail's stockings where she left them, entertain Poop-and-Cry while Lady is on the phone, save Freckles from the neighborhood bully dog, listen to Moptop's bad day at school - she is all in, with pride shown when Poop-and-Cry says her first word: To-PANGA!
This is such a cute series that kids will love, love, love. Not the best literature, but it is hilarious to read aloud leaving kids laughing until their sides ache. Scillian uses just the right tempo and tone throughout when writing about this goofy, loveable canine.
Once again, Tim Bowers captures the chaos in the day of... The expressions on everyone's faces - including Topanga's - leaves nothing to question.
A fun, fun, fun addition to this series of books by this talented duo. For PreSchool-grade 3.
Meet Topanga. She keeps her house in order with her internal clock that reminds her what to do when - whether to wake up Lady, take Big Guy out for a run, find Ponytail's stockings where she left them, entertain Poop-and-Cry while Lady is on the phone, save Freckles from the neighborhood bully dog, listen to Moptop's bad day at school - she is all in, with pride shown when Poop-and-Cry says her first word: To-PANGA!
This is such a cute series that kids will love, love, love. Not the best literature, but it is hilarious to read aloud leaving kids laughing until their sides ache. Scillian uses just the right tempo and tone throughout when writing about this goofy, loveable canine.
Once again, Tim Bowers captures the chaos in the day of... The expressions on everyone's faces - including Topanga's - leaves nothing to question.
A fun, fun, fun addition to this series of books by this talented duo. For PreSchool-grade 3.
December 8, 2025
Topanga is a dog. Topanga takes care of a big family. There's Lady and Big Guy. Ponytail, Moptop, and Freckles are at school during the day. Thern there the new member of the family that Topanga needs to entertain, it's Poop-and-Cry. This is a cute story told from Topanga's perspective; it is her memoir after all. I wonder what Poop-and-Cry's first word will be. This is a recommended read series, my favorite is the tortoise memoir, but it's a tear-jerker. Read by MrsMorrisReads on YouTube.
September 28, 2024
This is a dog who is helpful to the family in every way. He wakes them and gets them moving and calls each of them silly names- lady, freckles, Big guy, ponytail, etc. It is fun to read how the dog keeps everyone on schedule and runs off the mean dog following one of them home. He is called Topanga and everyone relies on his kindness and sense of order.
August 29, 2024
Cute story written from the family dogs perspective. He has funny names for everyone in the family and does things to help cheer them up and support them with tough stuff. I think kids will find this book funny and great for bedtime read if a family has a dog. Abit long for ST.
October 7, 2024
My students and teachers love this series and when I saw the new one is about a dog, I had to check it out. It did not disappoint in any way. It was so sweet and full of heart. Can't wait to share it with my students and teachers!
September 14, 2025
this is a cute fast and funny look at the hard life of a family pet who must run the entire household from getting people up on time getting kids to school taking people for walks every day to playing with the little poop and cry and making her smile Topanga is just the dog for the job....
August 9, 2024
Super cute! Can’t wait to read it to my young classes!
August 24, 2024
I just love this series.
September 2, 2024
Topanga you have my heart from the start! What an adorable book! I will be checking out more of Devin Scillian's books for sure!
September 13, 2024
Very cute book; perfect for a storytime
February 1, 2025
Funny and sweet.
July 10, 2025
This is a great book Topanga the dog knows she is appreciated and that household only functions because she is in charge while at times her family seems exacerbated with her.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews