Charlie Goes to School [with Audio CD]

Charlie the Ranch Dog Picture Books

by Ree Drummond

Paperback with audio CD

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

Paperback

First published June 25, 2013

About the author

Ree Drummond began blogging in 2006 and has built an award-winning website, where she shares recipes, showcases her photography, and documents her hilarious transition from city life to ranch wife. She is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling cookbook The Pioneer Woman Cooks . Ree lives on a working cattle ranch near Pawhuska, Oklahoma, with her husband, Ladd; their four kids; their beloved basset hound; and lots of other animals.

Reviews

[Taylor F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal Response:
My sister, Sydney, thought Charlie Goes To School was funny, and she said it was one of the best books she has ever read. She thought the book was good, because it had great illustrations. I thought the book was good, because it showed the importance of school. I also thought the book was really inspirational, because the author wrote about her own life of her dog and her.

Plot:
The book that I read was about a mom that had kids and a dog that was interested in school. The dog always wondered around being lazy, but one day he saw that the mom taught the kids their schooling. He thought it was so cool, that he decided he wanted to have his own school. He went outside and gathered up all the animals to have school. He taught the cat how to count, taught the horses history, and he taught the little dog how to not eat his food. After he got done teaching, there was a mess and he wanted to clean it all up. He couldn’t clean up, because he was super tired. Since he was tired, he fell asleep without cleaning it up. He cleaned it up the next day.


Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to both girls and boys, because it is about school. Also I would recommend this book to these genders, because they will enjoy the humor of the book. I would recommend this book to kids ages three to seven, because it is a very childlike book. I think the younger kids would like it, because it is funny. They would also be able to read it better, because the word choice is pointed towards younger kids.

[Kenson and kirra · Rating 3 out of 5]

i didnt' like that charlie made a mess trying to do school and then went to sleep without helping clean up.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a homeschool teacher in my first years, knowing Ree is a homeschool teacher I found myself very curious about how school will go for Charlie. It's awesome! Anyone can enjoy it, but homeschool mamas will love it as they can relate. Oh and in the Pioneer Woman style there is a snack recipe perfect for school days at the end of the book.

Thanks to HC.

[Laela · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh

The first book was so cute. It is just a rehash of the same thing. It gets an extra star for having a basset hound though.

[Slytano · Rating 1 out of 5]

Homeschool propaganda.

[Alena Medae]

A dog named Charlie lives on a ranch with his human family and many animal friends. He explains to the reader everyone's duties and what the children do on a typical day of home school. The children do math and play at recess and Charlie tries to help, usually while making a mess. He decides to make a school for his animal friends but they too make a mess. Charlie sleeps a lot through the story as well.

The pictures in this narrative are rich with color and life. I like the idea of animals going to school and it is always fun to pretend to understand an animal's perspective on life. I would recommend this story because it is cute and light-hearted. The illustrations are the best part of this book. I love the pictures of all the puppies!

I would use this book in a classroom for fun reading time. I would provide this story for students to enjoy the illustrations and silly plot. We could compare Charlie's school to our school.

[Emma Dee]

this book was about showing life on a farm with a homeschool family and also farm animals. it explained how it worked and an everyday schedule for their family. it showed how helpful farm animals are and also how homeschool works!

i personally LOVED this book because i was also homeschooled and lived on a farm in kansas. i liked how it explained some kids go to school at home and their mom teaches them. that’s exactly how my childhood was! we worked and worked and then had a lunch break and then went back and finished up school. i loved how it made it sound so natural and fun!

i would definitely use this book in my classroom to help students understand how homeschool works so they don’t think it’s weird or any less of what they do it’s all the same. it also explains life on a farm and i loves that too! the pictures were fun and the story was very simple and easy to read.

[NaTosha Stowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this book out from the library to read with Kira! I watch Ree on the cooking channel on tv. She is a city girl gone ranch wife. I enjoy her recipes but more than that I enjoy her lifestyle. She has four kids and is married to a cattlemen. They live on a ranch in Oklahoma and Charlie the ranch dog often makes appearances on the show. This is a lighthearted and fun read! Charlie lives to nap and eat, but he also believes the ranch would not run smoothly without him there! He notices mama and the kids studying in the house and decides to start a school of his own and teach the horses, puppies, and kitties. #childrensbook

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not big into pets but I want a "Charlie" dog now :) He is adorable!!! We got this specifically because it has homeschool in it. Wanted more books my daughter can relate to. I really liked when Charlie helps with math lol. Not a lot of text per page so you can soak up the big beautiful illustrations. I loved how it showed how much is getting done in the day, not just school. Very cute story I want to read over and over again. It even has a recipe in the back for the Strawberry Oatmeal Bars that were in the story.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book. His human family are busy homeschooling so Charlie the dog decides to create his own animal school with somewhat messy results.

Miss 3 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie the Basset Hound tells this story about life on a cattle ranch with four kids being home schooled by their mother. Charlie decides to start a school of his own to teach some of the animals on the ranch. The story ends with a recipe to make strawberry oatmeal bars. The author, Ree Drummond, has written several stories using her dog Charlie as the main character. I would use as a read aloud to children ages 4-8.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is on par with the previous installment. I really liked the first two books in the series, but I won't be reading any of the "I Can Read" installments since I don't find those necessary. However, I enjoyed the series as a whole.

[Cristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new favorite in our Kindred Hill Homeschool. We had to reluctantly turn this back to the library. This is one to buy and keep on the shelf--the kids thought Charlie was funny and adorable and I loved how it reinforces the idea that schooling at home is fun and normal!

[Aiden and Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

GRL: K
DRA: 18

[Jeani · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is fine - a bit 'expected' and cutesie. Great recipe in the back, though!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favorite "Charlie" book yet! Loved it.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book about homeschooled children!

[Virginia Mackmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a funny and cute story. My kids loved this story. They want to read more about Charlie.

[Jayda Safford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The school is at home!

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last book looked at before stupid Corona Virus shut things down.
Well Illustrated and good Humor.

[Chinook · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was underwhelmed. It was interesting up until Charlie tried to run an animal school.

[Georgetowner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie is darling as always, but the story is pretty weak on this one.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love that it was a homeschool book!

[Cherish Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4☆ Would recommend)
Cute book. Excellent illustrations. My daughter loved finding the chipmunk in each scene. The storyline was cute.

[PottWab Regional Library]

E

[Brandy T · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. I love Charlie!

[This Kooky Wildflower Loves a Little Tea and Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book about a dog's desire to have a school of his own. He gathers the animals on the farm he resides and expects them to act as human children while he "homeschools" them. Quick read. Cute.

[Mary Ledom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie watches his owners have school and wants to be just like them, so he makes his own school. The humorous tale will make any young learner smile with joy while still learning new words and experiences. I enjoyed how they showed this family as a home school family because it shows that everyone is different in their way of learning. I love dogs, so this book has a special place in my heart.
I would definitely read this book during a time we are talking about where everyone lives or something like that. It would be extremely relatable to the students that live on a farm or have a dog. The books illustrations are very clear and realistic which will easily draw students’ eyes in. Not only are the illustrations good but also the placement of words. The author has certain words in different fonts and sizes to create emphasis on the importance of the word. For instance, she has the sentence, “EXCUSE ME! BOOKS AREN’T FOR EATING!” in all capitals because it shows how important it is that the dog says that. This book would be great to read aloud to the classroom during a break or in between different lessons.

[Brittany Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a picture book intended for children ages 4-8. this book is about a dog named Charlie who lives on a ranch. The children on the ranch are home schooled and Charlie watches what a day of school is like at home for the children. Charlie than decides he wants to make his own school with the barn animals but it doesn't go as planned. I rated this book with 5 stars. I did this firstly because the illustrations and plot of the book were amazing they went together so well with each other. Also, the fact that the book is about a family pet could be appealing to children and want them to read this book. This book also got such a great rating from me because it shows children what a day in the life of a home schooled child really is like. when using this book to work with children I would read the book to the student and them make a T chart and compare and contrast what home school children do to learn and what normal schools do to teach children to learn.

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie Goes to School is another book in the Charlie the Ranch Dog picture book series with adorable illustrations and characters. After another hard morning of chores on the ranch Charlie notices the kids and their mother busy with school. Charlie is inspired by their homeschooling and decides he wants to set up his own school for some of the farm animals. Charlie is as enthusiastic of a teacher as he is a farm worker, if you don't believe me just ask him.

Since we are a homeschooling family we particularly enjoyed seeing into the world of another homeschooling family. As always Charlie books will be a hit with small children, either read independently or as a read-aloud.