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Neverwoof
There was a dog named Neverwoof,
and never did he woof.
He chased a siren.
Woo woo woo.
He saved a baby.
Boo hoo hoo.
He got high-fives from the fire crew.
But never did he woof.
Everyone in town knows Neverwoof is a good dog—so quiet, so composed. But when danger is in the house, will he find his bark?
and never did he woof.
He chased a siren.
Woo woo woo.
He saved a baby.
Boo hoo hoo.
He got high-fives from the fire crew.
But never did he woof.
Everyone in town knows Neverwoof is a good dog—so quiet, so composed. But when danger is in the house, will he find his bark?
32 pages, Hardcover
Published September 14, 2021
34 people want to read
About the author
Gabe Jensen
2 books5 followersA long-time creator of digital media for kids, Gabe has worked on Jeff Kinney's Poptropica, and Ranger Rick Online.
A former ad creative for clients like Coke and brain game designer for Lumosity, he lives in Berkeley with his two-eyed Cyclops (false) and one-eyed cat (true).
A former ad creative for clients like Coke and brain game designer for Lumosity, he lives in Berkeley with his two-eyed Cyclops (false) and one-eyed cat (true).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
February 23, 2022
No matter how often I read this story, it still makes me laugh. Neverwoof, a charming orange mutt, has an interesting life, going through his days without a sound. Until the day he’s seemingly must bark. Does he? I won’t tell beyond saying to expect a plot twist!
Coupled with the spare, rhyming text is Jensen’s fantastic art. The limited color palette effectively uses what he calls “two clashing colors.” Neverwoof’s personality shines through as does his love for his family. My favorite art comes toward the end when Neverwoof faces his ultimate challenge with a thief known as Stinky Sue—giggling is guaranteed.
The art, like the text, is deceptively simple. Yet, each time I delve into it, I find something new in the background. It may just the headline on a discarded newspaper or the cat that makes an appearance throughout, however, these details add depth and humor. The book’s smaller size (7 x 10 inches, hardback) fits well in young hands, the debossed cover is fun to touch, and there’s no dust jacket to lose.
Coupled with the spare, rhyming text is Jensen’s fantastic art. The limited color palette effectively uses what he calls “two clashing colors.” Neverwoof’s personality shines through as does his love for his family. My favorite art comes toward the end when Neverwoof faces his ultimate challenge with a thief known as Stinky Sue—giggling is guaranteed.
The art, like the text, is deceptively simple. Yet, each time I delve into it, I find something new in the background. It may just the headline on a discarded newspaper or the cat that makes an appearance throughout, however, these details add depth and humor. The book’s smaller size (7 x 10 inches, hardback) fits well in young hands, the debossed cover is fun to touch, and there’s no dust jacket to lose.
May 26, 2022
Oh my goodness. This book is so HILARIOUS it will leave you howling! Neverwoof is such a very good boy. But never did he woof. Not even when a pack of pugs run by or when he spies a bone cloud in the sky. Not even when his name is mispronounced. Everyone in town knows that Neverwoof never did woof. Even the robber Stinky Sue. Oh no! She hatches a devious plan to take advantage of the pup’s quiet nature. I won’t spoil the ending, but I will say that the plot twists were both surprising and delightful. With playful rhyming and wordplay, this book is super fun to read aloud. It’s sure to be a kid (and adult) favorite!
September 17, 2021
Lots of fun language that will make this a pleasure to read aloud, with the child being read to chiming in on a refrain or shouting along with the text at the key moment of the story. I also loved the boldly retro color scheme.
November 14, 2021
Minor spoilers follow.
The book is great, hopping through several rhythmic schemes, all good, and sticking the landing with two different twists at the end. My eight-year-old, no longer actively engaging in story time, will put down his own book and listen in for the first twist before bursting into peels of laughter and then immediately diving back into his graphic novel du jour.
my favorite quote: "Nice catch, Norwood."
The book is great, hopping through several rhythmic schemes, all good, and sticking the landing with two different twists at the end. My eight-year-old, no longer actively engaging in story time, will put down his own book and listen in for the first twist before bursting into peels of laughter and then immediately diving back into his graphic novel du jour.
my favorite quote: "Nice catch, Norwood."
Want to Read
May 28, 2021Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
May 13, 2022
Neverwoof by Gabe Jensen is the perfect book for my 6-year-old little girl, Caitlin. It has rhyme, humor, heart and the illustrations are super fun. On top of that it is the ideal length for an early reader, simple enough to be read independently, lively enough to keep them hooked and full of moments that melt the heart. The book features a friendly pet dog who never barks. Everyone knows and loves him but what will he do when a sneaky thief enters his family home? The overall message is one of love between a dog and their owner and also the idea that even when we think we know someone they may still surprise you! The book also has a fabulous surprise ending that had my daughter saying ‘ ahhhh!’ It had a classic quality to the illustration style and colour palette that I found captivating and made me want to read it over and over to enjoy the art more. I highly recommend it and for any dog lovers out there – this book is definitely for them!
September 9, 2022
Neverwoof is a funny and clever tale of a very zen dog who never woofs. He lives his life in blissful silence, happy to observe his surroundings and experience the world with the two kids who adore him -- that is, until Stinky Sue enters the picture and Neverwoof faces an existential crisis. Will he woof to save the day? No spoilers here, but the humorous twists in this story are delightful and surprising!
No less engaging are Jensen's marvelous illustrations. I love the retro style and color palette, the mix of colored-in and uncolored elements in each spread, and the many details that made me linger on every page, looking for little treasures (e.g., the different cloud shapes, Neverwoof's nose and tail going wonky when a kid calls him Norwood). A charming, rhythmic story that kids are sure to giggle over!
No less engaging are Jensen's marvelous illustrations. I love the retro style and color palette, the mix of colored-in and uncolored elements in each spread, and the many details that made me linger on every page, looking for little treasures (e.g., the different cloud shapes, Neverwoof's nose and tail going wonky when a kid calls him Norwood). A charming, rhythmic story that kids are sure to giggle over!
May 4, 2023
This book is a clever and delightful rhymer with fun repeated words that kids will love to say aloud (“pounce pounce pounce” / “bounce bounce bounce” / etc.). Neverwood is an unflappable, unperturbable, composed dog who sticks to his principles and won’t bark, under any circumstances. But a sneaky robber sees Neverwoof’s silence as an opportunity to burgle his family’s home. A fun surprise results, as Neverwood finds a way to summon help and make his voice heard. It’s a story about staying true to yourself, but being adaptable enough to change when necessary. And it’s just plain fun! A charming and offbeat world of green people and dogs who can…wait, I won’t spoil the ending. Read it yourself to see what they can do!
July 1, 2022
What a fun story! Neverwoof is the story of a dog who takes pride in living up to his name -- by never woofing. He faces all the temptations and receives all the praise for staying calm, but what happens when a dastardly villain decides to use that to her advantage?
Kids will love the fun rhyme and the fun twists at the end.
The art is very stylistic, reminiscent of older picture books with it's limited color palette. But at the same time, the images have a lively sense of the new.
No doubt kids will laugh in delight at the fun ending to this book!
Kids will love the fun rhyme and the fun twists at the end.
The art is very stylistic, reminiscent of older picture books with it's limited color palette. But at the same time, the images have a lively sense of the new.
No doubt kids will laugh in delight at the fun ending to this book!
September 2, 2022
This laugh-out-loud shaggy tale, with its adorable canine hero, will have little ones in stitches. Neverwoof is SUCH a good boy, he NEVER barks, no matter what hilarious challenges the narrator throws at him. The bouncy rhyme and lively comic-style illustrations carry us through to the dramatic moment when Neverwoof can no longer stay silent —if he is to save his family from the villainous Stinky Sue! And just when you think you know what Neverwoof will do, Jensen throws in a surprise plot twist. Highly recommend!
April 12, 2022
Neverwoof is the story of a dog who, you guessed it, never woofs. But just because he doesn’t bark, doesn’t mean he’s inactive. He does normal dog things like chasing sirens and unusual things like saving babies. But what happens when he should bark to alert his family of danger? Will he break his will and bark? Or does he have something more unusual up his sleeve? Read this book to find out and enjoy the adventure, the funny illustrations, and the rhymes along the way.
May 29, 2022
Neverwoof is a read-aloud-romp that I thoroughly enjoyed as did my young son. It's a joy to read out loud and the surprise at the end is fun too. Neverwoof is a dog who, you guessed it, never woofs. But when thief Sinky Sue is up to no good one evening, he faces a great dilemma. Can Neverwoof change who he is to save his family or will he find another way to raise the alarm while staying true to his name? I won't spoil the ending! Well recommended for any home or school library.
March 29, 2023
Children love stories about dogs and will fall in love with the main character, Neverwoof. Neverwoof is an unusual dog because he never barks. Young children will enjoy the rhyming and clever illustrations throughout the book. There is a consistent phrase used in the story and I can easily see the children chiming in each time the story is read. Spoiler Alert - this story has a great twist at the end.
November 26, 2021
We thoroughly enjoyed this clever and cute story about an awesome dog named Neverwoof! With rhyming text and fantastic illustrations, Gabe Jensen has created a charming book, a new classic for young readers and must-have on every bookshelf. I only wish Neverwoof could convince one of my dogs (always barking...) to be more like him!
November 27, 2021
This gentle story about a dog who never woofs is an absolute delight! The illustrations are eye-catching, expressive, and engaging for kids. As Neverwoof faces obstacle after obstacle, he eventually finds his own voice and way of expressing himself. An enchanting and comforting read for kids (especially those who might march to the beat of their own drum)!
February 3, 2022
This story had me from the moment I picked it up--I love a good, tactile experience! Then, once I got into it and discovered the nuanced illustration, funny text, and hidden cats on every spread, I was completely sold. Adults and children alike will both enjoy this offering, which is everything a good picture book should be.
March 17, 2022
As a mom of a 6-year-old, I'm fully confident she'll want to read this funny, clever book more than once. It's got sneaky robbers, a super talented dog and lots of satisfying rhyme. At a time when there's been a lot of hard things for kids to digest, I think funny books are really important right now -- maybe even for grownups, too. Looking forward to seeing what Neverwoof does (or says) next!
May 11, 2022
This book made me laugh out loud—three times! Between the charming illustration style (look closely at the clouds), Neverwoof's stoicism (especially when his name is mispronounced), and the hilarity of the unexpected ending, I smelled a classic and was already wishing for a sequel. Highly recommend!
May 17, 2022
This rhyming picture book about a dog named Neverwoof who, you guessed it!, never woofs offers a playful, fun read-aloud story--and will delight young readers because, sure enough, as the story evolves, Neverwoof finds himself in a situation when readers are wondering: will he, in fact, bark? The answer will surprise them!
March 28, 2023
NEVERWOOF is a seriously funny tale about a seriously chill dog. No matter what (sirens, cats, you name it!) he just won't bark. When thief Stinky Sue sets out to rob Neverwoof's family, Neverwoof is torn. Should he bark and go against his nature? In the end, he finds a truly hilarious solution to the problem. This is a laugh-out-loud book for dog lovers everywhere.
April 4, 2023
When a thief discovers Neverwoof the dog doesn’t bark, she seizes the opportunity to rob his house! Will Neverwoof go against his nature to stop her, or let her make a clean getaway? Told with a great amount of humor and a satisfying double-twist ending, this book is sure to make kids (and adults) giggle!
December 8, 2025
NEVERWOOF is a seriously funny tale about a seriously chill dog. No matter what (sirens, cats, you name it!) he just won't bark. When thief Stinky Sue sets out to rob Neverwoof's family, Neverwoof is torn. Should he bark and go against his nature? In the end, he finds a truly hilarious solution to the problem. This is a laugh-out-loud book for dog lovers everywhere.
November 26, 2021
Neverwoof is a good good boy! Striking retro-style illustrations and a fun story make "Neverwoof" a great bedtime read. The book plays with the reader's expectations and provides some sneaky 'seek-and-find' objects within the pages. A romping good time!
December 17, 2021
Neverwoof is a very special dog, but just HOW special isn’t clear until the unexpected twist at the end. My kids laughed out loud at this book. They thought the story and the illustrations were super funny.
January 24, 2022
What a fun read! This picture book is filled with humor, brilliant illustrations and ends with a twist. The rhythm and sounds make it fun to read over and over. Plus, there's a hidden cat in many pictures that readers will love to find!
February 19, 2022
Clever, funny, quirky...a delight! I love the rhyming text and vivid art. Neverwoof never ever barks, no matter what! But what happens when notorious robber Stinky Sue has her sights on Neverwoof's home? No spoiler alert here...you'll have to grab a copy to see. A fun ending with a twist!
May 27, 2022
From the bold, line-art illustrations to the twist at the end (that you do not see coming), this is a fun romp of a book! It's perfectly, delightfully silly. A palette cleanse from the heaviness of the current events.
August 3, 2022
This book made me laugh out loud. It’s a perfect comical read aloud book with illustrations that add to the humorous tone. Kids will love the surprise ending and want to read this book again and again!
September 2, 2022
Neverwoof is the perfect dog - he catches balls, saves a baby, and never ever barks! Everyone loves him, including Stinky Sue. What will Neverwoof do when his beloved family and home are in danger? You'll never guess! Jensen's surprise ending will delight readers of all ages.
September 6, 2022
NEVERWOOF is a fun read-aloud story of a dog who never woofed. This book has much to offer- an attractive color palette, a simple story with a meaningful message, humor, and an unassuming ending. I hope there's a sequel of NEVERWOOF.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews