Bailey

Bailey the Dog

by Harry Bliss

Follow Bailey the dog as he gets ready and goes to school. Should he wear the red or blue collar? Both are so fashionable! Will he be late? That squirrel is a distraction! And what about Bailey's homework? Would you believe he ate it? That is what dogs do, after all. In this funny new audio based on the book from the best-selling children's illustrator Harry Bliss, school proves to be an unexpected place for Bailey to do all sorts of things he reading, fetching, painting, digging, singing - and making friends!

Genres: Picture Books, School, Dogs, Childrens, Back To School, Humor, Animals

Audible Audio

First published August 1, 2011

About the author

Harry Bliss grew up in upstate New York in a family of successful painters and illustrators, so it wasn’t any surprise that he, too, went on to study painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and illustration at the University of the Arts and Syracuse University. He has illustrated numerous book covers and is a cartoonist and cover artist for THE NEW YORKER magazine. In the tradition of so many NEW YORKER cartoonists, Harry Bliss has illustrated several children’s books, among them A FINE, FINE SCHOOL by Sharon Creech, WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER BE? by William Steig, and COUNTDOWN TO KINDERGARTEN by Alison McGhee.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that even though Bailey is smart enough to attend school, he's still very much a dog. He needs someone to fill his water bowl, he wants to play fetch at recess, and he rummages through the trash at lunchtime. He even, gulp, eats his own homework. Bliss has thought of everything in this wonderful tale of an educated pooch!

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I love about this book is how unremarkable Bailey is in his environment. Normally a book about a dog in school would be about how special it is that there's a dog in school, but Bailey causes his classmates to raise their eyebrows on account of most of his behavior. And yet, nobody questions that Bailey belongs there. What's also brilliant is how all of the humor is in the illustrations. The text and the pictures do an Abbott and Costello, where the text is the straight man. One of the funniest scenes is when Bailey is standing in front of the teacher remembering eating his own homework. Despite all this, Bailey loves school and is really happy to be there. In addition, kids who maybe feel off the beaten track can find a hero in Bailey and inspiration in his enthusiasm for school and life, despite not always getting things quite right.

[Steve Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I realized yesterday upon reviewing Henry and Mudge that I've yet to review one of my favorite dog-as-a-lead picture books. Years ago, I was gifted this adorable book from a student/family who loved hearing stories of the antics of my former four-legged friend of the same name. Obviously, this one packs a sentimental punch for me and I love reading this one, as I do believe Bliss perfectly captures the sweet, funny innocence of dogs in this book for kids.

The illustrations hold most of the humor, while the story is pretty straight forward about Bailey trying to get ready and get through a day in elementary school. Fun read, and one that'll remain in my classroom library for years to come!

[Mid-Continent Public Library]

Bailey is a sweet dog who finally gets to go to school! Follow him throughout his day as he gets ready for school, reads books, and goes to recess with new friends. After reading through this book, try letting your little one read through the pictures to retell the story. You could also ask them to tell it from their point-of-view and see what their day at school might look like. Enjoy this one now by checking out a copy on Mymcpl.org or searching for it on Tumblebooks through our website!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bailey by Harry Bliss is a picturebook about a dog that attends school.

Bailey gets ready for school in his doghouse, which has a bedroom, bathroom, and closet. He runs to catch the bus, then travels with his head out the window. At school Bailey puts everything in his cubby, gives the teacher a bone, but has no homework because he ate it himself. Bailey tells about his favorite things, then does math counting bones. After lunch, where he eats garbage, Bailey gives a report on Fala, and has art class. At recess he bites the kickball and gets stuck on the slide. Bailey digs holes for planting in the school garden and howls during music class. Bailey dances, then enjoys book time, though he falls asleep and nearly misses the bus home.

It's a cute book, but didn't fully grab me. I found the comments and thoughts by the students to be too obvious and forced, and a nearly constant overt wink at the reader. I did enjoy the use of word balloons for people's and Bailey's thoughts.

The illustrations are well done. I especially enjoyed humorous details like the books in Bailey's bedroom: Clifford, Snoopy, To Fetch Sticks, and The Cat. Other fun bedroom details included the chewed stick, a cat calendar, and a skeleton picture titled Boney! In music class they are singing Hound Dog by Elvis Presley. A yellow crossing sign near the school shows a boy, a girl and a dog walking, all with backpacks!
I was less pleased with pictures of Bailey looking directly at the reader when chasing the bus: it's just a bit too overt for my taste.

I would recommend Bailey for use in preschool and Kindergarten rooms.

For ages 3 - 5, dogs, school, friendship, fantasy, humor, and fans of Harry Bliss.

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story about adorable Bailey, a doggie who attends elementary school with mixed results. Bailey rises to greet the day, taking his grooming seriously. As he runs to catch the school bus, he's tempted by a squirrel and a fetching stick, but he barely makes it to class on time. What ensues during the day are his adventures with his classmates, teachers, recess and the best time of day - lunch. Recommended for ages five and up.

[Judie Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

a cute book about Bailey the dog when he goes to school.Easy to read for a young reader. colorful pictures. I got this for my grandaughter, but of course I had to read it first.I'm sure she'll love it.

[Natasha North · Rating 4 out of 5]

The quirky humor of Bliss is summed up nicely when the dog eats his own homework. What's not to love?

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Something about this book just didn't click for me. I find it very odd that Bailey is a sentient animal in a school full of human students.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry Bliss has created a classic in kids fiction, with a mixed breed puppy that out-snoops Snoopy! Bailey is the D-O-double-G that is quite intelligent, refined and has very good manners.... sometimes. He goes to school with human kids, since possibly his owners can't afford obedience school, and he's usually so late for the bus he Chase's it halfway thru the city before they let him on. Bailey is one cool school dog! He's nice to the lady teachers, though he does like to eat the textbooks (calculus takes a while to digest, ha ha!). He plays dodgeball, ends up chewing holes in the dodgeball (yay! The kids are saved!). He dances with the class and boy does he know how to fox-terrier trot!!! Bailey is awesome, and the start of a series that has emerged from a "state of Bliss". Bliss, yours is a good state to visit!!!
Four stars
Bailey Comets!!!!!

[Sunah Chung · Rating 2 out of 5]

In "Bailey," Bailey the Dog goes to school with other human children. Bailey enjoys his school life, and his classmates love him.
Every classmate loved when Bailey glanced at him to check what he was doing and thought that Bailey was cute in their thinking bubble (presented as a speech bubble). However, those affections made me feel uncomfortable throughout the story. It was fiction, so I admitted that the dog could attend the school with a backpack, but being loved by all the peers was too much. At the same time, I imagined the world that would be created if people adored the demeanors the way they adored Bailey's when he showed his very doggy behaviors, such as wanting to play fetch, digging a hole on the ground, and painting with his tail.

[Jody Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bailey the dog goes to school. I actually really enjoyed this one. The only thing I originally didn't like was the kind of smug look on Bailey's face in many pictures. Having so much going on in the sides of the story would keep kids entertained. Kind of reminded me of things like The Magic Schoolbus or Grover and the Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum. I like picture books that have all those fun little asides. Good book for a lap read.

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, love the niceness of this. And yet the reality-- so many people do, in fact, think nice things or think conciliatory things. Maybe it's just me, but I sadly all too often worry that people are thinking negative things around me. If there are kids out there like me, this could be helpful to them.

[Kelley Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. I read it to my first graders who were taking their first reading counts quiz, and they giggled. I had to point out part of the humor. Would make a great “What is a picture book” story, because the words really are only half the story, the pictures are what makes the words funny.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable story. Bailey is a cute and very smart dog. He loves to read and is good in math, so he goes on the school bus to elementary school with the children. There he does things his way and impresses the teacher. Fun illustrations.

[So_Unhip_Shan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. Bailey has some struggles with regular school, but he tries his best and the other students seem to have a lot of patience with him and really seem to like him.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bailey is a dog who goes to school. Simple. But what I like about the book is that it is a fun story book to be read to children.

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't like the way Mrs. Smith looks at Bailey.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bailey is adorable, not because of the novelty of a dog attending school, but the normality of a dog attending school in this book. And my son was quite taken with the "Champlain Elementary School".

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dog is adorable, but the story was a little too forced for me.

[Laith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED IT !!!!!!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

School can be a scary place at first. When Bailey gives it a chance he learns that it can also be a fun place.

[EJLJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book, kids like thinking about a dog going to school and trying to figure out how to do different "school things".

[Ashlin Edmisten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about a dog going to school. I think this would be a fun for one-on-one reading.

[Eddie Garcia]

this book takes you on an adventure of a dog as a student

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good read.

[TCNS]

The reader learns what Bailey does at school every day.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute book

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe a 3.5. Useful for Read to a Dog programs or school displays. Might ease some nerves about school.

A dog goes to school and has a number of mishaps.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children’s Choice Award
The children’s book “Bailey” by Harry Bliss is about a dog that gets ready for school, attends school, and arrives home from school. This is a perfect book for school aged children because it is a fun twist on what happens during a typical school day. Because Bailey is the only non-human classmate, it helps young readers to understand what to do and what not to do in the classroom, such as eat their homework as Bailey does. The light humor in this favorite children’s book helps prevent young students from falling into bad habits in school.
This picture book is mostly in a school setting. The book starts off in Bailey’s house as he is getting ready for school, and then transitions from his house, to the school bus, to Bailey’s school. Bailey is characterized as a top-notch dog that is well liked at Champlain Elementary school. The children learn from Bailey what they should and should not do while in school. The plot of this children’s book is that of a typical school day. Bailey is getting ready for school, and then misses the bus because he is distracted by his stick. After arriving at school, Bailey puts his belongs in his cubby. He then explains to his teacher that he ate his homework, and later has to go to the nurse because he has a stomachache. Bailey participates in lunch, math class, art class, recess, music class, and reading class. Throughout the day there are things that a typical dog would do, but is not appropriate for children to do in class. The theme of “Bailey” is what is normal for a dog to do in school may not be appropriate for a student to do. However, some of the things Bailey does while in school are plausible. The point of view in the children’s book is third person, because the storyteller does not participate in the action but lets us know how the characters act and feel.
This book can be easily incorporated into a classroom and can be effective in instructing new students on what goes on in school. This book will give children a feel for what their typical days will now be like before, during, and after school. It shows students the behavior that is expected in school while adding humor so they enjoy and are interested in the book “Bailey.”