The Dog Days of Charlotte Hayes: A Chapter Book About a Girl's Plan to Rescue a Saint Bernard for Kids

by Marlane Kennedy

It's not that Charlotte hates dogs. Or that she wants all of them to disappear off the face of the planet. It's just that she doesn't see why everyone loves them so much. So how did she get stuck taking care of a big, drooling Saint Bernard puppy? Rain or shine, hot or cold, poor Beauregard is left chained in the backyard. No one ever plays with him or checks his food and water bowls, and Charlotte can tell he's sad. So she makes sure he has water, gives him belly rubs—blech!—and feeds him every single day. But it's kind of a pain, and she knows Beauregard deserves better. There's a new girl at school who lives in a huge house—plenty of room there for a big dog. Charlotte has an idea. Now all she needs is a plan. Maybe a lot of plans. How do you rescue your own dog?

Genres: Animals, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Dogs, Middle Grade, Childrens, Friendship

240 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2009

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of the Virginia Reader's Choice selections for elementary students this year. Personally, I'd give this book one star but my daughter liked it well enough for me to average our ratings and bring it up one.

I think the message this book sends (although not the intended main one which is that Charlotte learns to like dogs) is just horrible. While the protagonist might feel sorry for her St. Bernard, the adults around her neglect the animal so poorly that they ought to be cited for animal abuse. Leaving a dog chained up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with the poor animal never getting to go on walks or get any exercise is wrong. So is neglecting to refill the water bowl on hot days, day after day after day. The dog is not cleaned up after, bathed or sheltered appropriately. Leaving the dog outside on snowy or rainy nights without proper shelter isn't just being a flaky person - it's criminal neglect. Charlotte's parents should never be allowed to own any type of animal. Ever. There is no compassion or caring or even understanding after the fact from the adults.

Had I known the contents of this one before my daughter read it, I would have recommended that she choose something else from the list.

[Iliana]

The dog days of Charlotte Hayes
By:Marlane Kennedy.

This book is about a girl Charlotte and her new big Saint Bernard puppy named Beauregard(Killer). How did she get that dog? Well, Charlotte doesn't really liked dogs. It was not that she wanted them to disappear from the face of the earth, she simply didn't like them. And she ended up having one. So how did she get him? Well, she saw him chained in someone's backyard and he looked so sad. He had no water or food, and no one ever played with him. She could tell he was very unhappy. So Charlotte began to bring him water and food every day. In her class there was a new girl who lived in a huge house that looked like a castle. Charlotte got an idea how to change the dog's life. But she needed a plan maybe more than one. But I am not going to say anything else because I don't want to spoil it.And, I personally love this book because
1:I love dogs(puppies)
2:it a good example to remember,you need to try before deciding whether you like something or not.
So get that book and start reading.


Kennedy, Marlane. The Dog Days of Charlotte Hayes. New York: Greenwillow, 2009.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reading copy of this book to read and review for HarperCollins Publishers.

This is a great book about a young girl who changes during the course of the book and yet her core person stays the same. I thought I had the book ending all figured out and was definitely surprised! Charlotte is a great character. I loved her, her family and her friends - they all seemed very real. Throughout the book, Charlotte does what she thinks is best for others without regard for how her decisions may affect her. A great story of learning to care about things you never thought you would and the ability to make the best decision no matter how hard.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book for middle graders. Charlotte Hayes is not a dog person, and her family has recently purchased a St. Bernard. Her flaky father loses interest in it. Her teenaged sister is too busy with homecoming and boys to worry about it. And, her mother is preoccupied with her infant brother and postpartum depression to care about it. So that leaves Charlotte to care for him. After realizing that she is limited in her ability to provide Beauregard with a truly good home, Charlotte plans to find a better family for Beauregard, but many obstacles come her way. Will she ever succeed?

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dog book for those who love them - and for those who don't. I liked the tenuous relationship that Charlotte and Beauregard have and watching Charlotte's love for this animal grow despite the fact that she really doesn't want to take care of him was actually pretty touching. This complex relationship, as well as the subplots about the new girl in school and her mother's post-partum depression, were subtle and kept the story focused, but added dimention to the story.

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte is not a dog person, and yet she is the one who is taking care of the family dog. She decides the best approach is for her family to get rid of the dog. But can she do that when her father still wants to keep him? This book was absolutely charming. I was sorry to see it end when I reached the last page.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Boni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realistic, well-drawn characters, believable situations and a somewhat unexpected ending, which was nice. Though the size of the book may be a bit daunting, it's an easy read for chapter book readers wanting to stretch a bit to mid-grade fare. Lovely book that will stay with me, I think- and those are the best kind, right? :)

[Emme Koutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte Hayes, a twelve year old girl is stuck taking care of the dog her dad bought because no one else will. Numerous times she had asked her parents to find new owners but her father will not part with the dog. There is a new girl named Grace in school and Charlotte comes up with a plan to try and get Graces family to take the dog. When this plan doesn't work she continues to think of new ways until her dad finally decided to put an add in the paper about the dog. When someone calls she beings to panic and lies to her dad that is already a buyer. Now she has to make four hundred dollars to buy the dog. Charlotte finds a job visiting with her hairdressers old aunt for an hour after school. Everything is going great until aunt Petunia falls down the stairs and Charlotte is out of a job. After Petunia receives a painting from of her house from Charlotte she decides to pay her the remaining $125 dollars. In the end Charlotte gives the dog to a rescue group as planned and he ends up in a very nice home. I think this is a good book to show children responsibility. Additionally, I really liked how well the story flowed. There seemed to be a lot of different things happening with the dog, but everything tied together very nicely in the end. I gave this book five stars because I thought it was a good book. Seeing how hard Charlotte worked to get her dog a nice home was very sweet. Even though she was not a dog person she stilled took great care of the dog creating a bond that she didn't even know was there till she finally gave the dog away.

[Bridget Neace · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this. The poor dog, but--I'm going to break my no-spoiler creed here, because DOG--the sweet boy is fine and does get a happily ever after, so that is good/important to know.

If you don't want to care for a dog, don't get a dog. It ws ridiculous (but at the same time, probably no unrealistic) how awful the parents' attitudes were about their dog. Furthermore, and I'll hide this just in case you do still want to pursue reading, I think it the dad was an asshole for making a bargain with his 12-year-old daughter that she needs to pay $325 for their dog. I'll say that again--his 12-YEAR-OLD daughter...you know, who's of an age where she's too young to get an actual job. Thank goodness for the kind hearts of Rhonda and Petunia .

I'm not going to say there isn't anything worthwhile in here or that this is a "bad book." But I'm done spending any more time on it now.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to become more familiar with the books in my classroom library and was pleasantly surprised. More depth and character development than I expected and a great story line. Themes of responsibility and friendship make this a good read for my fourth graders.

[Lamia]

this way one of my favorite books growing up and I haven't read it in so long but I still am fond of this story. 💓

[Alyssap · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love dogs, so this book was very enjoyable. Charlotte, the main character, told herself she wasn't a dog person until she realized her passion for them in the end. She went through a lot, but only for a dog. The book is full of twists and turns, and I definitely recommend reading it.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off this was a book my son bought a few years ago from a scholastic book fair at his school. He read a few chapters but didn't finish the book (he said it was a girl book). A few months ago I told him to clean his room and put everything he didn't want in the hall. He didn't want any of the book he had in his room. I planned to give them to his pediatrician's office because they have a book exchange and they also donate books to local charities. Anyway, i kept this book and wanted to read it before I gave it away and I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

This was a delightful book. Reading it the last few days genuinely kept a smile on my face. It was a very easy, light read but very well written.

This was the story of Charlotte Hayes who is not a dog lover but has the task of taking care of the family dog, a big St. Bernard because although her father wanted the dog and he probably likes dogs, he only bought it because he got the pure bred for a great price. When Charlotte's father first got the dog he played with him and fed him but them stopped and no one else in the family played with him or fed him. Charlotte begins to take care of the dog because she feels like he is being neglected (and quite frankly he is). No one is taking him out for walks, they are forgetting to fill his water and food bowl and he stays outside in all weather conditions.

Charlotte comes up with a plan to get the dog in a better home and the hijinks start from that moment on. One zany idea after another is thwarted by some random event but Charlotte is steadfast in her determination to find the dog a good home. I was very happy and surprised at the non-cliched ending.

I think anyone who reads this book will enjoy it. It's just really adorable and fun.

[Evy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlotte Hayes is not a dog person. So how does she end up taking care of a big, slobbery dog? I think this book is very deep...deeper and far more passionate than it seems. Though it appears to be just about a girl whose family neglects the dog they adopted and how she must take care of it to compensate for the lack of attention, it is much more. The moral of the story is that in order to make things better, sometimes you have to give things up. Sacrifice for things you really want or need. In this case, what Charlotte Hayes really wants is a better life for her dog, Beauregard. The goodwill that Charlotte subtly displays inspires me. A really good read for everyone...try to find the deeper meaning of the story! I adore Marlane Kennedy's 'The Dog Days of Charlotte Hayes,' as I expect that you will, too!

[Alyssa Calhoun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlotte's dad just got a St. Bernard, and at first he and the rest of the family was taking care of it. And Charlotte liked it that way--she's not a fan of dogs. However after a few weeks the "newness" wears off and everyone is ignoring the dog, who stays chained up in the yard. Charlotte feels bad for him and starts taking care of him, even though she doesn't enjoy it. Soon she comes up with a plan She secretively comes up with a plan to buy the dog from her dad and give him away to a St. Bernard rescue so that he can find a family who will truly love him. But Charlotte has to figure out a way to make $325 in just a few months. Plus, does she really want to give up the dog?

I thought I had this book figured out from the beginning, but I was wrong! The beginning and middle of the book are kind of boring, but the ending is great!

A good read for girls 9+.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlotte is NOT a dog lover but she does have a caring heart and finds herself trying to do what is best for the neglected family dog by trying to find a new home for it, without telling her father. It was a little harder for me to warm up to this story, as opposed to Marlane Kennedy's delightful "Me and the Pumpkin Queen" for the simple fact that I deplore irresponsible pet owners who get pets without thinking through how it will, and should, change their lifestyle, then think they can just put the pet outside and not give it another thought. Truly, Charlotte's motives were the point of the story but it was hard for me to get past the father enough to truly enjoy it, though it was a good book and a good lesson for kids who beg their parents for a pet.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! I picked up this book at a glance for my 9 year old daughter. She enjoyed it, and since I like to keep tabs on what she is reading, I enjoyed it too.

This is a very sweet yet somewhat realistic story about a girl's life. Charlotte's mother has post-partum depression, her dad gets caught up in good deals until he loses interest, there's a little school drama, a little money drama and there is also an elderly lady who's had a stroke. All of these elements are wrapped up nicely. Charlotte's life isn't perfect, but she does so much good just by being herself.

We are looking forward to reading more by the same author

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte, age 11 (almost 12) has a problem. Her dad brought home a St. Bernard, and now everyone ignores the poor dog, except her. She feeds poor Beauregard and keeps his water bowl full and rubs his stomach, but, still, he spends all day and night tied up in the back yard and with a too-little dog house that he can't even fit in. She feels very sorry for him, but she doesn't really like dogs and decides it would be best to find Beauregard a good home. She comes up with some ideas, but each of them fail. And along the way, she finds that maybe she is a dog person.

This is a cute book with an ending I didn't expect and would be good for 4th or 5th graders.

[Sonia Thiara]

The book The Dog Days of Charlotte Hayes is about a girl who absolutely HATES dogs. Somehow she gets stuck looking after their family dog. Nobody cares for the dog and it is only allowed to be kept outside she starts to feel bad for the dog and lets into it. Of course having obstacles along the way.

I liked this book because it had lots of detail and the book shower how just because the things you see or hear about something doesn't mean you have to feel that way about it.

I would recommend this book to anyone that likes dogs. Or maybe if you don't like dogs then this could be your opportunity to maybe change your mind and see how dogs really are.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marlane Kennedy's second book is as enjoyable s her first, Me and the Pumpkin Queen. Her characters ring true and believable--girls will feel as if Charlotte is someone they know and they will pull for her to find the right answer for the dog her father calls "Killer" and she calls "Beauregard".

[Gentlereader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlotte is 11-12
Doesn't like dog, but has to take care of it. She tries to get rid of it, but only to a good home. Agrees to buy from father, secret plan to give to Saint Bernard rescue group. Raises money by working for elderly lady.
Elderly lady has a stroke, donates rest of funds needed, Charlotte buys dog, sends it to Rescue, dog (Beauregard) finds great home, Charlotte and friends volunteer at animal shelter.
Rec: elementary girls who love animals
OK @BR

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my 9 year old old animal loving son. It was a bit long for him so we switched off reading chapters. This book had so many themes/lessons that I liked for my son: a child caring for animals, learning that you have to work hard and stay focused to reach a goal, and caring for the elderly. All of these were explored wonderfully through Charlotte and her family and friends.

[Luanne Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. Charlotte's tender heart for unloved, time consuming pets was touching. Many people select pets and really don't have time to spend with them. Feeding and watering is not enough! Dogs require much care and attention, and Charlotte feels that their large, slobbery dog needs a home where he will be loved, cared for, and played with regularly.

[Mustang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, because I liked how she tried to help the dog.She saved up 250 dollars to buy him from her dad. I was about to cry when her friends husbands aunt fell down the steps. I loved the ending, because bearguard got put in a good home.I thought it was very nice when she got up at 5:00 to take bearguard in.

[Delaney Mchenry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much because it was really cute and I am a big dog lover. I love the end because it was sweet and very happy. I loved all the characters in the book because they all had good personalitys and they were funny. I loved the dog so much because he was cute and calm and a good listener. I am super-duper glad I read this really good book.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried at the end! I am not a dog lover, so I could relate to Charlotte not wanting to take care of the dog but wanting a good home for him. This book be a good way to expand the horizons of students who like to read dog stories.

[Jocelyn Teregeyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this is the first book i read as a little kid and i love it. so, I am encouraging you all to read this book, and learn to enjoy the company of books.Becaus a book will always be there when a friend won't.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book might be fun for 5th grade students to read - it blends a cute, animal story with the angst and attitude of an 11-year-old girl. I liked that her persistence and creativity led to the solution of her problem.

[Holly]

Mar 1, 2009

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sooo cute!!
The only thing i didn't like about it was the father character, I hope someone else i know reads this soon so we can discuss.....