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Ladybird Books for Grown-Ups
'How it works': The Dog
This book is the latest in the series of Ladybird books which have been specially planned to help grown-ups with the world about them.
The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups to think they have taught themselves to cope.
The subject of the book will greatly appeal to grown-ups.
The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups to think they have taught themselves to cope.
The subject of the book will greatly appeal to grown-ups.
56 pages, Hardcover
First published October 20, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 4, 2022
The 'How it works' series uses beautiful vintage ladybird book illustrations with the addition of funny text in a style of the old ladybird books but with added sarcasm. Here we meet all sorts of dogs from different walks of life, get to know a bit about their owners and their funny quirks (dogs and owners)
I've read many from this series and The Dog and The Cat are the funniest and most successful in my opinion. Ideal gift for a dog or cat lover!
I've read many from this series and The Dog and The Cat are the funniest and most successful in my opinion. Ideal gift for a dog or cat lover!
January 4, 2017
Amusing - but it does look as though this great series of 'Ladybird Books for Grown-Ups' has perhaps run its course...?
Not as strong as many of the other titles in this series.
Not as strong as many of the other titles in this series.
December 7, 2023
I am most definitely not a fan of the Ladybird Books for grown-ups but having bought this for a friend, I thought I would try another before passing it on.
Unfortunately it followed the same pattern of the others that I have read in the series as it was definitely not funny and some of the entries were downright banal. Having read it, I feel as downcast as the dog on the cover looks!
The only redeeming feature of the book is the vintage illustrations selected to illustrate it and wanting to say something positive about it, I list from the back of the book those illustrators: Martin Aitchison, Robert Ayton, John Berry, Frank Hampson, P.B.Hickling, John Kearney, B Knight, Robert Lumley, Edward Osmond, B.H. Robinson, Clive Upton, Harry Wingfield and Harry Woolley. God Bless them all for bringing an element of sanity into an otherwise disappointing book.
Whilst the text tried to mirror what the illustrator had portrayed, at times it was stretching the imagination to believe it, so silly were the words.
Unfortunately it followed the same pattern of the others that I have read in the series as it was definitely not funny and some of the entries were downright banal. Having read it, I feel as downcast as the dog on the cover looks!
The only redeeming feature of the book is the vintage illustrations selected to illustrate it and wanting to say something positive about it, I list from the back of the book those illustrators: Martin Aitchison, Robert Ayton, John Berry, Frank Hampson, P.B.Hickling, John Kearney, B Knight, Robert Lumley, Edward Osmond, B.H. Robinson, Clive Upton, Harry Wingfield and Harry Woolley. God Bless them all for bringing an element of sanity into an otherwise disappointing book.
Whilst the text tried to mirror what the illustrator had portrayed, at times it was stretching the imagination to believe it, so silly were the words.
October 25, 2021
Another funny book for adults in the Ladybird series.
September 16, 2024
We are so back. I read this looking for an explanation as to why Penny keeps humping the curtains. For those in a similar boat, this book does not provide those answers. Has this allowed me to shithouse my way one step closer to completing my reading goal? Yes, yes it has.
August 2, 2025
“George Harrison, one of The Beatles, was a devout Hindu. Hindus believe in reincarnation - that they will come back to life in another form. This might be George Harrison. If so, George Harrison likes the ball.”
If you are of a certain vintage, then the sight of that little ladybird icon in the top right hand corner will elicit all kinds of warmth and recollections from back in the day. These humorous follow ups have been in circulation for a number of years now and this was a funny and random take and tribute to the old Ladybird book series, as well as to man's/woman's/trans' best friend too.
Read
November 4, 2016Because there are some days, or indeed years, where it takes something as full-on as the combination of spoof Ladybirds and such good boys to lift the spirits.
January 17, 2021
Hilariously funny!
December 31, 2016
If you have a dog you'll find this very funny and the pictures go so well with the dialogue. Love it and annoyed my family by reading aloud ever other page and giggling!!
January 2, 2026
Starting the year off strong, thanks Mum
July 20, 2020
Of course, we all know that I’m more of a cat person, but I do like dogs too. Lots of laughs to be had here.
January 2, 2017
Another witty "retooled" Ladybird book.
For those of "a certain age", Ladybird books were an introduction to the love of reading, and early steps into using books to learn useful information. Before Google there was the "How things work" series of books from Ladybird, covering such foundational information as "Computers" and "The Printing Press".
Sadly now overtaken by such nonsense as the Internet of Thingies and the Information Super-carpark, Ladybird books have dwindled in their influence on the next generation to a mere shadow of their former selves.
Comedians and wit-weavers Hazeley and Morris trawled the oodles of images first used in 1960's Ladybird books and re-sorted them into themes that they then wrote their own text to.
The result is an hilarious set of "new" Ladybird books for the perpetual child in us. You realise how well read a kidling you were when you recognise several of the images from their first outing.
Advice: read EVERY word in the book. Even the stuff you normally skip is entertaining.
For example:
"Printed in England. If wet, Italy".
For those of "a certain age", Ladybird books were an introduction to the love of reading, and early steps into using books to learn useful information. Before Google there was the "How things work" series of books from Ladybird, covering such foundational information as "Computers" and "The Printing Press".
Sadly now overtaken by such nonsense as the Internet of Thingies and the Information Super-carpark, Ladybird books have dwindled in their influence on the next generation to a mere shadow of their former selves.
Comedians and wit-weavers Hazeley and Morris trawled the oodles of images first used in 1960's Ladybird books and re-sorted them into themes that they then wrote their own text to.
The result is an hilarious set of "new" Ladybird books for the perpetual child in us. You realise how well read a kidling you were when you recognise several of the images from their first outing.
Advice: read EVERY word in the book. Even the stuff you normally skip is entertaining.
For example:
"Printed in England. If wet, Italy".
January 28, 2017
This wasn't one of the laugh out loud spoof Ladybird books, but few pages fell flat. Hazeley and Morris could so easily have gone for the hackneyed jokes about dogs and their owners but have found plenty new at which to poke fun. I particularly liked the owners who want to get their dogs into a Catholic obedience school. There's a scattering of fine dog names too.
I am not sure I was ever that charmed by the original Ladybird illustrations about which the authors are so gracious in a note at the end, but The Dog was more than usually nostalgic for me, and with the plus of pictures closely resembling my own dogs, past and present.
I am not sure I was ever that charmed by the original Ladybird illustrations about which the authors are so gracious in a note at the end, but The Dog was more than usually nostalgic for me, and with the plus of pictures closely resembling my own dogs, past and present.
February 18, 2018
Time taken to read: 10 mins approx
Rating: 2.5 stars
The dog is often called man’s best friend .
One of the best things about this book, were the lovely drawings predominantly featuring dogs. And I had hoped to love this book as much as I loved dogs, however I did find the snippets to be hit and miss. Some really made me chuckle, whilst some others didn’t really capture my attention at all.
But I do very much appreciate the choice of dog names, from Pickles, Biggins to Lyttleton.
Rating: 2.5 stars
The dog is often called man’s best friend .
One of the best things about this book, were the lovely drawings predominantly featuring dogs. And I had hoped to love this book as much as I loved dogs, however I did find the snippets to be hit and miss. Some really made me chuckle, whilst some others didn’t really capture my attention at all.
But I do very much appreciate the choice of dog names, from Pickles, Biggins to Lyttleton.
January 3, 2024
This is a kind of 'comedy' Ladybird book for grown-ups, with the same kind of 1960s illustration and big clear 'school days' font. Essentially, each page is a single joke, all of which are about dogs in some way. I did almost smirk once or twice, but I was quite annoyed and offended at two of the jokes as well. (About Laika and about asthma, neither of which do I consider suitable comedy material.) The illustrations are lovely, but for £7... no. I'll find more laughs from an actual dog. 2/5
January 9, 2017
I was given this as an unexpected Christmas present. It really helped make my holiday enjoyable as this book is simply delightful. You don't need to be British to appreciate the humor. I'd love to read the whole series someday.
October 30, 2016
Pedigree or mongrel, you'll find something to laugh at in here... even if you're not a dog lover.
October 31, 2016
A rather amusing and apt book that had Paul and I laughing at how much it was like Odd.
November 24, 2016
Very funny, first one of these type of Ladybird books that I have read and I enjoyed it.
December 7, 2016
I enjoyed every word of it, and I must say, it's all true. :D
December 13, 2016
Another humorous read for the 'How It Works' series of books for grown-ups by Ladybird. It did make me giggle and I feel it is a true representation of all of the dogs I have encountered
December 25, 2016
Another raid on the range of Ladybird illustrations to produce this humorous tribute to man's supposed best friend
December 31, 2016
Extremely humorous. Well worth a laugh.
October 15, 2019
It is a fun book, I spent twenty minutes giggling to myself.
February 8, 2017
Made me chuckle.
February 27, 2017
Very funny, and clever how the authors have written this. Also reminds me how wonderful the original Ladybird books are. A book any childhood should have.
November 12, 2017
3.5 at best.
January 23, 2018
Another of those Ladybird spoof books. If you own a dog you will find this amusing. Worth buying if only for the George Harrison page.
February 11, 2018
My dog really enjoyed me reading this book to her!
March 12, 2018
Very funny a must for dog owners!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews