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Marley Picture Books
Bad Dog, Marley!
A picture book based on the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir Marley & Me by John Grogan!
In John Grogan's memoir, Marley & Me, the world learned how one bad dog became the heart of the family that loved him. Now, in this original picture book, Mommy, Daddy, Cassie, and Baby Louie welcome the puppy Marley to the Grogan family. Marley grows and grows...and grows. His eagerness and energy grow with him, getting him into trouble in a great big way. And, in the end, Marley's over-the-top energy is just what's needed to save the day.
Marley is a hit with families and dog lovers everywhere. And Richard Cowdrey's warmly rendered illustrations bring the story of this rambunctious dog to a whole new audience.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2007
13 people are currently reading
441 people want to read
About the author
John Grogan
68 books1,185 followersJohn Grogan has spent more than 25 years as a newspaper journalist. Previously he worked as a reporter, bureau chief, and columnist at newspaper in Michigan and Florida. He is also the former editor on chief of Rodale's Organic Gardening magazine. His work has won numerous awards, including the National Press Club's Consumer Journalism Award. His first book, Marley & Me, is a number one international bestseller that was as a major motion picture on 2008. His second book is The Longest Trip Home. John lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, Jenny, and their three children.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
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August 21, 2008(this review is from Jake's mom)
This book bothers me -- and here's why. Marley is a puppy and his new family gets mad because he does things that puppies do -- chews things up, knocks over the trash, blah blah blah. He's a puppy! He doesn't know you're expecting something else from him! So the family up and decides they're going to give the dog away. HELLO? Train your dog! You can't expect a dog to just be perfect, especially as a puppy, and when it's too big an inconvienence you're just going to give it away? Seriously?
Marley ends up redeeming himself to his family at the end, but that's not the point. I really think the author should have at least MENTIONED the family trying to train poor hyper Marley before deciding to boot him out.
This book bothers me -- and here's why. Marley is a puppy and his new family gets mad because he does things that puppies do -- chews things up, knocks over the trash, blah blah blah. He's a puppy! He doesn't know you're expecting something else from him! So the family up and decides they're going to give the dog away. HELLO? Train your dog! You can't expect a dog to just be perfect, especially as a puppy, and when it's too big an inconvienence you're just going to give it away? Seriously?
Marley ends up redeeming himself to his family at the end, but that's not the point. I really think the author should have at least MENTIONED the family trying to train poor hyper Marley before deciding to boot him out.
December 21, 2023
My dad loves books about Marley and all the gross potty humour. I had it in my bookshelf and in needed to complete my reading challenge. Recommended for 4-9 year olds and for people who like potty humour and dogs.
April 13, 2017
Here is Marley. That dog we have all had once in our life, the mischievous, all energy, no quit, curious, little beast that we have all fallen in love with. It is tough to be good, when you are so good at being bad, but Marley may just find a way.
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June 26, 2016The youngest LOVES these books. I tend to agree with the older son's assessment, which is that the family aren't very good dog owners.
May 23, 2012
Bad book, Marley!
If you're looking for a children's book that models irresponsible pet ownership, this one's for you. Marley tears the house to ribbons each time the family leaves the house--much of this destruction could have been prevented by the appropriate use of a crate. When Marley eats an entire chocolate cake, Mom is enraged. (She should have been thankful the dog wasn't dead!) The family attempts to give away their dog in a newspaper "free to a good home" ad--the absolute worst and most dangerous way to rehome a pet. Just in time, Marley rescues the baby, convincing the family to keep him--offering up the idea that a dog must do something worthwhile to people in order to be loved and accepted.
If you're looking for a children's book that models irresponsible pet ownership, this one's for you. Marley tears the house to ribbons each time the family leaves the house--much of this destruction could have been prevented by the appropriate use of a crate. When Marley eats an entire chocolate cake, Mom is enraged. (She should have been thankful the dog wasn't dead!) The family attempts to give away their dog in a newspaper "free to a good home" ad--the absolute worst and most dangerous way to rehome a pet. Just in time, Marley rescues the baby, convincing the family to keep him--offering up the idea that a dog must do something worthwhile to people in order to be loved and accepted.
July 4, 2016
A ver... esto va de un perro que se porta mal, pero nunca ves que los humanos se preocupen por enseñarle algo al animal.
Que si bien, el libro muestra el apego y la lealtad de un perro por su familia, aquí no se expresa ningún sentimiento de la familia hacia perro... vamos, que se ve que niña está encaprichada con la mascota y la señora que ya lo iba a despachar, lo deja quedarse porque ahora le debe un favor. BYE.
Las tres estrellas son por el Marley mambo que de alguna forma me hizo reír xD
Que si bien, el libro muestra el apego y la lealtad de un perro por su familia, aquí no se expresa ningún sentimiento de la familia hacia perro... vamos, que se ve que niña está encaprichada con la mascota y la señora que ya lo iba a despachar, lo deja quedarse porque ahora le debe un favor. BYE.
Las tres estrellas son por el Marley mambo que de alguna forma me hizo reír xD
February 1, 2009
I read this to 6th graders as a part of identifying literary plot, characters and theme. It was somewhat elementary... Mommy, Daddy, which I explained to my classes ahead. The voices of the characters were strong. The students enjoyed the humor of the story. They easily identified the plot and the characters. After some gentle prompting, they were able to identify the similarity between the theme of "Library Lion" and this book, and were also able to identify the difference.
December 31, 2010
Bad book, Marley, bad book!
July 7, 2013
I would use this book in making connections with the children and talking about the pets they may or may not have and the things they do.
October 2, 2019
Bad Dog, Marley is about a family who desperately wants a dog. One day, the dad comes home and surprises his wife and kids with a puppy named Marley. Although they loved him dearly, Marley turned out to be a very badly-behaved dog. He ate everything insight, destroyed their clothes and shoes, and always made a mess. One day, when Marley destroyed their couch, the mother decided it was time to give Marley up to another family- he had crossed the last line. The problem was, nobody else wanted Marley because he was such a “bad dog”. One day, the baby (Louie), climbed on top of the refrigerator to try to reach some cookies. Marley rescued baby Louie by grabbing him and safely getting him down from the high surface. The family decided that although Marley often makes mistakes, he is a part of their family and they love him. The family decided not to give Marley up.
The overall theme of Bad Dog, Marley is the importance of family and forgiveness. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, but it does not mean that anyone should give up on them.
When I read Bad Dog, Marley, it made me feel very nostalgic and think about my dog from childhood. He was the same kind of dog as Marley and behaved very similarly. Even though he destroyed many things in my house, he was a part of my family and we all loved him whole-heartedly.
I would recommend this book because it teaches people not to give up on others. This story demonstrates that just because someone does something bad, it does not make them a bad person (or dog in this case). It also teaches the importance of loving your family and appreciating them for the goods things they do. This is a good lesson to teach young children because they often times give up on things or people quickly, but Bad Dog, Marley can teach them to look past the bad things in life and appreciate the good things.
The overall theme of Bad Dog, Marley is the importance of family and forgiveness. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, but it does not mean that anyone should give up on them.
When I read Bad Dog, Marley, it made me feel very nostalgic and think about my dog from childhood. He was the same kind of dog as Marley and behaved very similarly. Even though he destroyed many things in my house, he was a part of my family and we all loved him whole-heartedly.
I would recommend this book because it teaches people not to give up on others. This story demonstrates that just because someone does something bad, it does not make them a bad person (or dog in this case). It also teaches the importance of loving your family and appreciating them for the goods things they do. This is a good lesson to teach young children because they often times give up on things or people quickly, but Bad Dog, Marley can teach them to look past the bad things in life and appreciate the good things.
January 30, 2018
Bad dog, Marley is about is about a family of four who gets a puppy named Marley. When Marley grows up, he starts getting into trouble. He destroys their clothes, trash, glasses and even eats their food. The parents finally had enough when they came home to Marley covered in their couch feathers after ripping it up. They decide to put him up for sale. Everyone that came to meet him turned him down. But then one day, Marley started barking out of the blue. The mom thought he was just being bad again until her daughter screamed for her to come quick. When she walked into the kitchen, she saw her baby on top of the fridge. Before she could take another step, Marley jumped on top of it and grabbed the baby by the diaper. The family as so relieved that the baby was safe and thanked Marley. This heroic action influenced the family to keep Marley and he was right where he belonged.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it perfectly shows how a dog can act when they are a puppy. I noticed how the book was very descriptive which made the book stand out more to me. The illustrations were wonderful and perfectly went along with the words. This book could be used in a classroom setting or at home with your children. It is very relatable to families who have pets and can teach you to have patience.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it perfectly shows how a dog can act when they are a puppy. I noticed how the book was very descriptive which made the book stand out more to me. The illustrations were wonderful and perfectly went along with the words. This book could be used in a classroom setting or at home with your children. It is very relatable to families who have pets and can teach you to have patience.
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September 30, 2020Summary:
The book "Bad Dog, Marley!" is a story about a dad who brings home a puppy for his children named Marley. The dog soon grows up, and gets into lots of trouble. This golden dog chews, scratches, and messes up everything in sight. Time and time again, the family finds Marley getting into trouble and scolding him for it. Finally the parents have had enough and they plan on giving Marley away until something unexpected happens.
Analysis:
This story was fun to follow. Although Marley got frustrating at times because he kept getting into trouble, the dog was funny and loving. The illustrations of Marley and the family showed their expressions well and did not hide the fact that this dog was crazy. The baby boy in this book is also a great personality add-on as well.
How I can use this book:
I can use this book in my classroom to teach kids about taking care of pets. Sometimes the responsibility is hard when taking care of a new animal and some children do not know how much time and effort goes into getting a dog. This book would also be great for showing kids that we all can mess up sometimes and that is okay.
The book "Bad Dog, Marley!" is a story about a dad who brings home a puppy for his children named Marley. The dog soon grows up, and gets into lots of trouble. This golden dog chews, scratches, and messes up everything in sight. Time and time again, the family finds Marley getting into trouble and scolding him for it. Finally the parents have had enough and they plan on giving Marley away until something unexpected happens.
Analysis:
This story was fun to follow. Although Marley got frustrating at times because he kept getting into trouble, the dog was funny and loving. The illustrations of Marley and the family showed their expressions well and did not hide the fact that this dog was crazy. The baby boy in this book is also a great personality add-on as well.
How I can use this book:
I can use this book in my classroom to teach kids about taking care of pets. Sometimes the responsibility is hard when taking care of a new animal and some children do not know how much time and effort goes into getting a dog. This book would also be great for showing kids that we all can mess up sometimes and that is okay.
September 7, 2018
Summary:
This book is about a family who wanted a dog, so they got Marley. Marley was a mischevious dog and was always getting into trouble. Mommy decided that she had enough and they put an ad in the paper that said free dog. People did not want Marley because he was too hyper. Marley proved his place in the family when he saved Baby Louie from falling off of the fridge.
Evaluation:
I wanted to read this book because I have seen the movie 'Marley and Me.' I think that this is a book that a lot of children can relate to. I remember when my dog Max was a puppy and he chewed on our window sills and tear up paper towels and napkins. I think that this would best be used with lower grades. The pictures are very engaging and nice. I didn't think that this book was very much like the movie because in the movie they have Marley before they have kids.
Teaching Idea:
I think that you can use this book to talk about predictions. When Marley starts barking and won't stop when Mommy asks him to. The students can predict why Marley is barking.
This book is about a family who wanted a dog, so they got Marley. Marley was a mischevious dog and was always getting into trouble. Mommy decided that she had enough and they put an ad in the paper that said free dog. People did not want Marley because he was too hyper. Marley proved his place in the family when he saved Baby Louie from falling off of the fridge.
Evaluation:
I wanted to read this book because I have seen the movie 'Marley and Me.' I think that this is a book that a lot of children can relate to. I remember when my dog Max was a puppy and he chewed on our window sills and tear up paper towels and napkins. I think that this would best be used with lower grades. The pictures are very engaging and nice. I didn't think that this book was very much like the movie because in the movie they have Marley before they have kids.
Teaching Idea:
I think that you can use this book to talk about predictions. When Marley starts barking and won't stop when Mommy asks him to. The students can predict why Marley is barking.
September 14, 2018
Summary
This author paints a picture of your average family. A mom, a dad, and two children. Something was missing though! A dog. Marley enters their life a small puppy who starts to get in trouble. The bigger that Marley get, the bigger the trouble gets. It eventually get to be too much that the Mom and Dad want to get rid of the dog. One day baby Louie gets into some trouble and Marley saves the day. Will this be enough to stay with his family?
Evaluation
I thought this story was written well and paints the picture of what many people go through when they get a new dog. I believe that Marley's behavior is a direct result of the attention he got.
Teaching point
This is a story that could be read to show students that someones behavior doesn't always match up to how they are feeling on the inside. Marley misbehaved in their eyes, but to Marley he just wanted someone to tell him he was a good dog.
This author paints a picture of your average family. A mom, a dad, and two children. Something was missing though! A dog. Marley enters their life a small puppy who starts to get in trouble. The bigger that Marley get, the bigger the trouble gets. It eventually get to be too much that the Mom and Dad want to get rid of the dog. One day baby Louie gets into some trouble and Marley saves the day. Will this be enough to stay with his family?
Evaluation
I thought this story was written well and paints the picture of what many people go through when they get a new dog. I believe that Marley's behavior is a direct result of the attention he got.
Teaching point
This is a story that could be read to show students that someones behavior doesn't always match up to how they are feeling on the inside. Marley misbehaved in their eyes, but to Marley he just wanted someone to tell him he was a good dog.
May 3, 2019
This book kind of reminded me of Marley and Me. A family gets a little puppy named Marley. Marley is a little bit of a troublemaker. He tends to tear things up and eat desserts that the mom leaves out. So the family starts to hand him off to other families trying to find a better place for him. But other families don't want him either because of how much trouble he causes.
This is a great book for kids that love dogs. This would be a great book to interest a kid in reading more. That is probably one of the main things I would use it for. I don't think I would use this as a lesson for anything else. But I wouldn't mind having it as an option for a student to read themselves.
If I did need to use it for the class I think it would be so fun to have a bring your pet to school day. Of course that would be very hard to get approved but if we did have that as an activity I would definitely read this book to the class to go with it.
This is a great book for kids that love dogs. This would be a great book to interest a kid in reading more. That is probably one of the main things I would use it for. I don't think I would use this as a lesson for anything else. But I wouldn't mind having it as an option for a student to read themselves.
If I did need to use it for the class I think it would be so fun to have a bring your pet to school day. Of course that would be very hard to get approved but if we did have that as an activity I would definitely read this book to the class to go with it.
January 28, 2018
This book is about a family who decides to get a new puppy. The puppy is much more rambunctious than they had anticipated and gets into a lot of trouble around the house. Then, the family finally has it's last straw with Marley and wants to give her away to another family because they cannot take care of her anymore. People came to visit, but no one was interested. Later on in the story Marley decides that she needs to do something right so that his family will want to keep him. Marley ends up doing something that the family could never thank her enough for and she gets to stay with them forever. I liked reading this book because it has a lot of different emotions within the story. I would implement this into my class to show children that animals are a lot of responsibility.
January 25, 2023
I thought that this book was cute. It talked about two kids who wanted a dog so bad. They begged and begged and begged their parents. Eventually, the parents give in and decide to get a family dog. As a result, the puppy phase is a phase that brings the family many trials. After countless days of wreckage in the home the parents decide to get rid of Marley. Sadly, no other owner wants him. However, Marley saves his chances as he protects the baby of the family and the family decides to keep Marley forever. I thought this book was cute, however, it was not my favorite. If I was to use this in my classroom I would have my students create their own dog and write their own story about their dog.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2018
Summary: A family of 4 decide to get a new puppy. The puppy, Marley, ends up being very bad. The family is constantly getting onto him and saying "No, Marley!". One day the family decides they have had enough and try to find a new home for him. However, he ends up saving the babies life and the family then decides he is welcome to stay in their home forever!
Evaluation: A very simple book but still interesting.
Teaching Idea: This book would be fun to read when you are trying to kill time before lunch or specials (extra time) I probably would not do a lesson or anything with this book though.
Evaluation: A very simple book but still interesting.
Teaching Idea: This book would be fun to read when you are trying to kill time before lunch or specials (extra time) I probably would not do a lesson or anything with this book though.
March 14, 2017
This book is a kid’s version of the book named Marley and Me. It is just some more funny stories about the dog. I liked this book because maybe the kids have watched the movie or have heard about it. It is a funny book about Marley as a puppy destroying things and there is many in the series. I would not personally use this book in a teaching way but I would have the book available for the children. I liked the illustrations because they fit well with the story. Also liked the reoccurring them of red from the actual Marley and Me cover.
May 1, 2020
I always loved this book. It was really relatable. All the dogs who have been apart of my family each having their own unique personalities, but Marley always reminded me of the dog that I was closest to. Sally was high energy and loved to chew on things. We managed to teach her not to chew certain items, but still barked at the UPS man when he dropped things off but loved the mailman. She once got so excited barking at the neighbor's cat that she broke through the window, ran across the neighborhood, just to chase the cat up a tree! I love this book! It's hilarious!
February 9, 2019
Marley, a labrador pup, joins a family, and doesn't stay a pup for long. Marley's knack for eating anything, and getting into trouble causes the family to seek another owner for him. It wasn't until Marley performed an act of heroics that changed the family's mind, and they realized that Marley was a part of the family, and there to stay.
October 20, 2019
Each of my kids have begged to have this book read to them over and over again. It's not my favorite, but it is theirs!! The colorful and expressive illustrations are very fun. I don't love the repetition but I'm not five so...
For kids I'm recommending this 5/5 stars. For adults forced to read it 10,000 times it's only a three :)
For kids I'm recommending this 5/5 stars. For adults forced to read it 10,000 times it's only a three :)
November 8, 2020
Bad Dog, Marley by John Grogan and Richard Cowdrey is a cute book that I think students would giggle at. I also think that students may like this book even more because it may relate to their own lives. This was a fun book with realistic illustrations. By the end, you could not help but love Marley, too! I enjoyed this book, but not a classroom must have in my personal opinion.
-Kristen
-Kristen
April 17, 2021
This book was very cute, and is the children’s version of ‘Marley and Me’. My older child enjoyed this book, and wondered why Marley was so bad.
The illustrations in this book perfectly go along with the story, and really bring it to life.
This book is cute, and would be perfect for older toddlers/ school-aged kids.
The illustrations in this book perfectly go along with the story, and really bring it to life.
This book is cute, and would be perfect for older toddlers/ school-aged kids.
April 25, 2023
This was seriously one of my favorite books when I was a kid. I remember reading it so many times, and always enjoying the pictures on every page and how the story was so funny and fun to read. I think that children would really enjoy this book, and that any grade could have this book in this classroom. It would be a great book to have, I recommend!
September 1, 2017
I loved this book. It was a great and fun story about a bad dog adapting to his family. I read this to my son and he was laughing almost throughout the whole story. This book would be a great story to read to a child at any age.
April 24, 2019
This is such a cute and entertaining book! I have 3 dogs so I easily relate to the frustrations that come with having a dog in your family, and I'm sure there are many children who can relate to this as well.
March 28, 2020
It's nice story of Marley a mischievous dog with a pure heart but poor thing it always ends in trouble which causes distress for the family. But one fine day it saves the baby Louie and wins everyone's heart and turns from bad to good Marley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2020
This book is a great read to bring humor in to your classroom or home. The story is definitely one that children will laugh, giggle, and love! The illustrations make you want to grab the puppy right off the page! I would recommend reading this book to children in K-3rd grade.
December 1, 2020
This is a super cute book about a family getting a new puppy and watching it grow up. I enjoyed the illustrations and the storyline. I would say this book is not one that is essential to have in the classroom but is still a cute story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews