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The Hallo-Wiener
From Dav Pilkey, creator of the New York Times bestselling Dog Man and Captain Underpants series, comes Oscar, a little dog with a big bullying problem.
Oscar is a little dog with a big problem -- he gets more tricks than treats because other dogs tease him all the time. But one brave act on Halloween makes Oscar a Grade-A hero, proving that a little wiener can be a real winner!
Oscar is a little dog with a big problem -- he gets more tricks than treats because other dogs tease him all the time. But one brave act on Halloween makes Oscar a Grade-A hero, proving that a little wiener can be a real winner!
32 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 1995
78 people are currently reading
1088 people want to read
About the author
Dav Pilkey
430 books3,302 followersDavid "Dav" Pilkey (b. March 4, 1966), is a popular children's author and artist. Pilkey is best known as the author and illustrator of the Captain Underpants book series. He lives near Seattle, Washington with his wife, Sayuri.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 349 reviews
October 7, 2024
Another hospital waiting room book - but it will get me through till October! I really like reading 'random' books; books that you find that you probably would never have found on your own. Hospital waiting rooms are a great place to find such books. This would be a really fun read during a Halloween party!
October 8, 2016
My students LOVED this book! They thought it was hilarious!
October 2, 2024
Being dachshund stewards, we own a lot of kids books involving dachshunds. I'm less surprised that we own them and more surprised by the fact that there are so many kids books out there about dachshunds. Of course, if you own a dachshund (or two, or three---most dachshund owners can't have just one. They're like Lays potato chips), it's easy to see why.
They are ridiculously fun and entertaining animals. They can also be infuriating and annoying, but that is all part of their charm.
Dav Pilkey's adorable book, "The Hallo-wiener", is about a wiener dog named Oscar. Because he's a wiener dog, the other dogs make fun of him for his shape and size.
It's Halloween. His mom makes him a costume. It's a hot dog costume. Being a good son, he decides to wear it, even though he knows he will get ridiculed by the other dogs. And he does.
Oscar starts the lonely trek home, but he notices that the other dogs are being chased into the lake by a monster. Oscar notices something weird about the monster. He chases it, rips off the costume, and reveals some naughty cats playing a trick.
After helping the other dogs out of the lake, Oscar is treated as a hero.
A fun, Halloween-themed kids book about treating everybody with respect and not making fun of people because of their size or shape.
They are ridiculously fun and entertaining animals. They can also be infuriating and annoying, but that is all part of their charm.
Dav Pilkey's adorable book, "The Hallo-wiener", is about a wiener dog named Oscar. Because he's a wiener dog, the other dogs make fun of him for his shape and size.
It's Halloween. His mom makes him a costume. It's a hot dog costume. Being a good son, he decides to wear it, even though he knows he will get ridiculed by the other dogs. And he does.
Oscar starts the lonely trek home, but he notices that the other dogs are being chased into the lake by a monster. Oscar notices something weird about the monster. He chases it, rips off the costume, and reveals some naughty cats playing a trick.
After helping the other dogs out of the lake, Oscar is treated as a hero.
A fun, Halloween-themed kids book about treating everybody with respect and not making fun of people because of their size or shape.
October 5, 2015
Sweet children's book about a weenie dog that helps out his pals when they are in trouble. Loved the title and how it incorporated Halloween, my favorite holiday :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2021
Oscar the dachshund is unhappy with his short but long body in this humorous Halloween tale from Dav Pilkey, creator of such childhood classics as Captain Underpants. Ridiculed by the other dogs at obedience school, Oscar is looking forward to creating a really frightening costume for trick-or-treating. Unfortunately his mother has other ideas, and he ends up with cumbersome hot-dog outfit that prevents him from keeping up with his peers on the big night. Is Halloween ruined? As it turns out, being a giant hot dog comes in handy when a 'monster' unexpectedly attacks the trick-or-treating dogs...
I enjoyed The Hallo-Wiener, which is told with Dav Pilkey's trademark sense of humor. There were a number of particularly amusing moments in the text - Oscar's mother calling him her "little Vienna sausage," Oscar showing up in his costume looking "quite frank" - but also some heartwarming ones, as when our canine hero accepts his costume despite disliking it, because he doesn't want to hurt his mother's feelings. The accompanying artwork is colorful and appealing, accentuating the wacky humor of the story. Recommended to Dav Pilkey fans, and to anyone looking for children's stories about Halloween and/or about accepting ourselves for who we are.
I enjoyed The Hallo-Wiener, which is told with Dav Pilkey's trademark sense of humor. There were a number of particularly amusing moments in the text - Oscar's mother calling him her "little Vienna sausage," Oscar showing up in his costume looking "quite frank" - but also some heartwarming ones, as when our canine hero accepts his costume despite disliking it, because he doesn't want to hurt his mother's feelings. The accompanying artwork is colorful and appealing, accentuating the wacky humor of the story. Recommended to Dav Pilkey fans, and to anyone looking for children's stories about Halloween and/or about accepting ourselves for who we are.
November 4, 2019
Of course my library hold for a Halloween picture book comes in a few days after Halloween.
The Hallo-Wiener is great fun. It's full of puns, and the hero is an adorable dachshund.
Oscar's often made fun of by the other dogs for being short and long. They taunt him with cries of, "Wiener dog!" But he doesn't care, because it's Halloween, and he's ready to put together a great scary costume. Unfortunately, his mother is one step ahead of him, and she's got a costume ready and waiting: a hot dog bun. Poor Oscar doesn't want to hurt her feelings, so he puts on the costume. The other dogs think it's hilarious. They all go out trick-or-treating, but Oscar can't keep up, and the quicker dogs ahead of him are emptying all the neighbours' treat bowls. It isn't until the other dogs run into a scary situation that Oscar's size, smarts, and costume are an advantage. He shows the others that he's a great dog to have on their side!
I have to admit that I haven't read any Captain Underpants books. So this was my first exposure to Dav Pilkey's work. I rather like the simple illustrations. And the puns... If you like that sort of thing, you'll eat this one up.
Overall, I'm pretty impressed. It's a clever tale with a likeable hero. I just wish I'd gotten to read it in time for Halloween!
Quotable moment:
The Hallo-Wiener is great fun. It's full of puns, and the hero is an adorable dachshund.
Oscar's often made fun of by the other dogs for being short and long. They taunt him with cries of, "Wiener dog!" But he doesn't care, because it's Halloween, and he's ready to put together a great scary costume. Unfortunately, his mother is one step ahead of him, and she's got a costume ready and waiting: a hot dog bun. Poor Oscar doesn't want to hurt her feelings, so he puts on the costume. The other dogs think it's hilarious. They all go out trick-or-treating, but Oscar can't keep up, and the quicker dogs ahead of him are emptying all the neighbours' treat bowls. It isn't until the other dogs run into a scary situation that Oscar's size, smarts, and costume are an advantage. He shows the others that he's a great dog to have on their side!
I have to admit that I haven't read any Captain Underpants books. So this was my first exposure to Dav Pilkey's work. I rather like the simple illustrations. And the puns... If you like that sort of thing, you'll eat this one up.
Overall, I'm pretty impressed. It's a clever tale with a likeable hero. I just wish I'd gotten to read it in time for Halloween!
Quotable moment:
August 30, 2015
All the other neighborhood dogs tease Oscar, a little dachshund who is “half-a-dog tall and one-and-a-half dogs long.” It doesn’t help that Oscar’s mother showers him with public affection, calling him “my little Vienna sausage." On Halloween, Oscar is embarrassed by the costume his mother has made – a full hot dog bun, with Oscar as the wiener dog – but he wears it because he doesn’t want to hurt his mother’s feelings. Slowed down by his costume, Oscar can’t keep up with all the other dogs. But when they pass the creepy cemetery, the other dogs are scared witless by a ghastly monster. Oscar saves the day when he realizes that the monster is really two mischievous cats playing tricks. Oscar rescues the other dogs and earns their appreciation. The silly, cartoon-style illustrations have kids laughing and giggling, from Oscar’s mother human lipstick to the bullies running scared from the monster.
November 2, 2015
I've been reading this book since I was a little girl. This year I got to dress up as Oscar the Hallo-Wiener at my library for story hour. The kids loved the book and it sends such a good message. I really recommend this book for anyone who's teaching about bullying.
August 20, 2023
Adorable 🥰
November 1, 2022
This was so fun to read, with so many great hot dog puns!
October 23, 2022
This book has a little problem, namely: Hallo, Wiener!: An Erotic Gender Swap
which is the next thing that comes up when you search this one up on Goodreads.
"Her wish-come-true is no trick…and all treat!
Katrina has an awkward girl-crush on her BFF. A doomed girl-crush, since Sophie is as straight as hell.
But through some Halloween magic, Katrina wakes the next day as a man. And not just any man—the sexiest one she’s ever seen. Who happens to be just Sophie’s type .
Though she’s freaked out, Katrina realizes that being in a man’s body…is her only chance to get into Sophie’s body.
One click to see how one SWITCH can really turn these girls on!"
I mean, not the absolute worst thing to pop up when you've got a wholesome story about a weiner dog whose resemblance to a hot dog turns out to be his greatest strength. But not exactly what I'm guessing most people are searching.
I guess this could be an attempt at guerrilla marketing. You name your erotic fiction "Green Eggs And Ham-Sized Penises" or something, and then maybe some people click out of curiosity?
I've seen worse marketing. I've done worse marketing.
which is the next thing that comes up when you search this one up on Goodreads.
"Her wish-come-true is no trick…and all treat!
Katrina has an awkward girl-crush on her BFF. A doomed girl-crush, since Sophie is as straight as hell.
But through some Halloween magic, Katrina wakes the next day as a man. And not just any man—the sexiest one she’s ever seen. Who happens to be just Sophie’s type .
Though she’s freaked out, Katrina realizes that being in a man’s body…is her only chance to get into Sophie’s body.
One click to see how one SWITCH can really turn these girls on!"
I mean, not the absolute worst thing to pop up when you've got a wholesome story about a weiner dog whose resemblance to a hot dog turns out to be his greatest strength. But not exactly what I'm guessing most people are searching.
I guess this could be an attempt at guerrilla marketing. You name your erotic fiction "Green Eggs And Ham-Sized Penises" or something, and then maybe some people click out of curiosity?
I've seen worse marketing. I've done worse marketing.
October 6, 2014
A great tale to teach friendship & bullying to primary students, The Hallo-wiener could also be used in the classroom to teach how illustrations can help you understand the text. This non-scary Halloween-themed book is appropriate for ages 4 and up, and I would recommend it for school and home libraries.
October 20, 2009
Hot dog jokes. This book is a wiener.
October 29, 2022
This is a very cute children’s book. It illustrations are adorable. This is a perfect story for small children.
November 23, 2016
If I could give it ten stars, I would.
October 28, 2021
Honestly some of the drawings made me tear up because the main dog is so cute and being bullied sucks but also cats suck.
December 29, 2024
"Then Oscar showed up, looking quite frank." 😂😂😂
A true masterpiece! I read in December even though it is a Halloween book. It holds up at any time of year!
A true masterpiece! I read in December even though it is a Halloween book. It holds up at any time of year!
Read
February 24, 2025I had precisely ZERO memory of this book's existence for 16 years until it magically appeared in my brain while trying to fall asleep. We performed it as a play in 2nd grade, where everyone got either a line of narration or dialogue. Can't remember if there was a hot dog costume or not.
October 2, 2025
Always one of my favorites 🌭🎃
June 14, 2009
I have always loved Dav Pilkey's books, including his Captain Underpant's series. The Hallo-wiener is a wonderful short story that combines humor and a life long lesson: to treat your friends nicely because they can ultimately help you in dire situations. The protagonist, a wiener dog wears a hilarious hot dog costume for halloween, resulting in other dogs making fun of him. However, when the dogs are trapped in a lake, the wiener dog rescues them. He then becomes their friend forever. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to hear a warm hearted story with a nice lesson to it.
October 29, 2015
Poor Oscar gets picked on and called "wiener dog" by all the other dogs. He wants to be something scary for Halloween, but can't disappoint his mother when she makes him a hot dog costume. Of course all the other dogs make even more fun of him, but in the end he shows them what he's made of. This reminded me a lot of How Spider Saved Halloween. I wish I had had this all those years I was doing a Halloween storytime in my library. So much fun!
June 26, 2017
This was a family favorite, so it made it's way to this list. Meet Oscar, a wiener dog who is “half-a-dog tall and one-and-a-half dogs long." With a smothering mother, Oscar is the butt of many jokes at school until a Halloween night incident helps him with his standing at school.
5 stars for the conversation that can be had about bullying and fitting in. Honestly, the illustrations make me laugh every time I read this book, along with the subtle one liners that are found throughout this story. An all around great book!
5 stars for the conversation that can be had about bullying and fitting in. Honestly, the illustrations make me laugh every time I read this book, along with the subtle one liners that are found throughout this story. An all around great book!
September 28, 2010
This is a book that describes everything children can relate to: fitting in and adapting to the social norms of peers being the main components. It is a humorous lesson in accepting everyone and not being so quick to judge because we never know when we'll need the assistance of someone else. It is also an excellent choice to read during the Halloween season when children are anxiously awaiting the wearing of beloved costumes.
October 19, 2016
(Per my first graders) It was awesome! It was funny. It was amazing! It was cute. We loved it! It was fun. It was really great and really funny! It was really good.
October 31, 2018
Is it even really Halloween if you haven't read this yet? A must read for every year.
May 23, 2022
This was one of my favorite picture books growing up! Still as cute as I remember.
October 5, 2019
A reread of a classic pictute book by Dav Pilkey. I probably hadn't read this one in almost 20 years. It waa just as good if not better than I remembered it. I loved Dab Pilkey's puns and play-on words in this story about Oscar, a weiner dog
October 6, 2017
A weenie-dog that is made to wear a hot dog costume on Halloween. Who would have thought that he was the hero of this book? Cute read! Dav Pilkey can do no wrong, according to the 3rd and 4th graders that I just read to.
October 13, 2020
A truly insightful look into the prejudices of dog society. showing the harrowing experience of how hard it is for short dogs to be accepted by their peers. Godspeed to Dav Pilkey for having the guts to show us what we didn't want to see.
September 9, 2023
2023 September Reading Challenge
Prompt: read a book that takes place in the fall
I read this when I was kid, so I wanted to revisit it. It was cute and I had fun with it, just not as much as when I was a kid. Still good though.
Prompt: read a book that takes place in the fall
I read this when I was kid, so I wanted to revisit it. It was cute and I had fun with it, just not as much as when I was a kid. Still good though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 349 reviews