Pinkerton, Behave!

Pinkerton #1

by Steven Kellogg

His behavior may be rather unconventional, but Pinkerton the dog proves it doesn't really matter.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Dogs, Animals, Humor, Fiction, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Steven Kellogg is an author and illustrator who has contributed over 90 books for children. He is best known for writing books about animals, for which he credits his grandmother .

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend any book written by Steven Kellogg or illustrated by him, with the Pinkerton series being my favorite of his books.

In this book they are tying to train Pinkerton. First at home, then with at a dog training school. What Pinkerton learns is:
Come (jump through the window)
Fetch (shred the newspaper)
Get the burglar, Pinkerton! (try to lick that person to death)

The take Pinkerton to the grand big building that says 'Doctor Aleashia Kibble's Canine University: PRIDE OBEDIENCE EXCELLENCE ACHIEVEMENT' There a stern looking lady with a name tag that says 'Doctor Kibble' tries to teach Pinkerton the correct behaviors. Unfortunately, even when the instructor uses that highly effective training phrase 'Fetch, you fleabrain, FETCH!, not only does Pinkerton not change, but he gets the other dogs in his class to follow his interpretation of the commands. Pinkerton gets and F and is told by the teacher 'OUT! OUT! OUT! OUT!'.

All in the Pinkerton's house is sad. Then a burglar comes! As you might guess, all ends well after the commands are said to come up with the right outcomes. Very fun book, but I think the series gets better after Rose the cat is added.

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute Pinkerton has had an issue learning commands. Thankfully, the owners figured out what to do in the nick of time.

[Teegan Hite · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pinkerton, Behave, by Steven Kellogg is about a dog named Pinkerton, who is trying to be trained by his owners. They take him to a dog school to learn how to fetch and attack a burglar, but he has problems learning these skills. At the end of the book though, a burglar comes to their house and Pinkerton does what he is supposed to do and attacks. This book is a picture book and meant for a younger audience, but the book was not very exciting to read. The story line and writing style were also very simple, which made the book less interesting for me, but it would be more meaningful to younger audiences.
However, this book is considered a controversial or challenged book. It is considered a challenged book because it might be too violent for young readers. The book includes a scene of a burglar pointing a gun at a woman's head. Some people feel like this is too violent of an image for the young audience this book is intended for.
After reading Pinkerton, Behave, I could see why some people might consider the book too violent to use with young students. However, the violence in this book would not be the factor to keep me from using it in an elementary classroom. I mostly would not use this book because of its weak story line. Overall, Pinkerton, Behave, by Steven Kellogg is not a book that I would recommend to use in the classroom.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was OBSESSED with Steven Kellogg as a kid. I would make a beeline for them at every library visit. I loved the imagination and giddiness of his art. It was special.

So it’s been such a joy to share his books with my own child. Luckily, she’s also fallen in love with his art. It makes me so happy to share this piece of my childhood with her.

I guess Kellogg is old school nowadays, because it’s harder to find his books than it used to be. The bookstore has zero Kellogg books. Our local library had an anthology, but that was it. I ended up getting a bunch of stuff through library holds. It would break my heart if Kellogg has somehow fallen out of vogue and is no longer read by today’s children.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember liking this picture book as a kid. Of course I would - the dog saves the day. But as an adult, I have some issues with it. I read the updated 35th anniversary edition (published 2014; the original book was published in 1979), in which the gun was removed. (I don't remember being frightened by the gun as a child; but then, I grew up in a different era.) Still, the burglar looks dirty and oafish. But my main complaint is the dog trainer; she is belligerent, short-tempered, and doesn't seem to know anything about dogs. I would have given this picture book only 2 stars, but I bumped it up to 3 for the sake of nostalgia. And because Pinkerton, the Great Dane puppy, is a hero after all.

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

A freebie on Kindle. Not really impressed. As a former obedience instructor, I found the portrayal of training Pinkerton absurd. Even my kids know how important training the family dog is, and that it takes time to meet the training goals.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing little tale of Pinkerton the dog who just doesn't seem to be trainable. Will he save the day? It's cute - I got the older version with original illustration, so I can't speak to the newer illustration version.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this today to a kid at work, loved it!

[Madison Skiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book that is easy to follow and has a good storyline. The reason it was challenged was because of the burglar in the story who is masked and armed with a gun. People challenge that this is too violent for young readers. While I may have a different opinion of how I view this book, the teacher inside of me agrees with the challenge to an extent. I know that if I were to read this to a group of children, there is a good chance that a parent is going to be upset about it. I think that the reading level of the actual story is around K-1 and those ages would not think much of the gun. I still do not think it is appropriate to be reading this type of story to that age group because of the repercussions that could follow. These issues are better left to discuss at an older age.

[Andrea Riffle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Pinkerton! This silly dog seems to disobey every command his owners give him. When told to fetch, he leaps over the fence! After Pinkerton is sent to obedience school to learn to behave, he quickly flunks out. But when a burglar comes into the family home, Pinkerton puts his skills to use to chase him out! Wonderful pictures and language are used throughout the book. However, there is an illustration of a handgun in this story, which may upset some parents or children. Other than this fact, this is a good and entertaining story for children!

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an oldie but a goodie. Pinkerton is a Great Dane, who has a lot of trouble learning their commands. So much so they flunk out of obeisance school. However, when the house is invaded by a burglar Pinkerton will save the day, even if the family has to use the “wrong” commands to get the “right” answer. This book has been banned, but also “fixed” by the author to take out references of guns after Sandy Hook. It was the author that approached the publisher about the new edition for it’s 30th anniversary.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A search for a story of The Three Sillies ended up with my reuniting with Steven Kellogg and his wonderful stories especially the ones about Pinkerton. I remember loving these books and laughing with my children over this dog's antics. The illustrations are clean and fun and the story line is easy to follow. But the twist at the end when the dog who can't seem to get any training commands correct saves the day.

[Tarnia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, and I love Kellogg's artwork, but I gave it a lower score because shows a robber breaking into a house. Some may also dislike that he is armed. I have no problem with guns, but instead I think back to how scared I was as a kid of burglars (even though we lived in the middle of nowhere!) and how this one wouldn't have worked for me. But it's cute nonetheless.

[Logan Wolford · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Pinkerton, Behave," teaches an important lesson that not everyone is perfect, especially animals. It also portrays that not everyone learns the same. I loved that the story had a meaning behind it. It also taught that you have to accept people, and animals, for who they are you cannot change them.

[Maeve · Rating 2 out of 5]

When a mother and daughter adopt Pinkerton, they attempt to teach him basic commands such as come, fetch, and bark loudly. Pinkerton doesn't do very well at these tasks (and even fails out of dog training), but when a burglar invades their house, the young daughter smartly gives Pinkerton directions to save them all.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pinkerton isn't just a puppy. He's a NAUGHTY puppy.

Making this book a natural fit for two-year-olds, and for miscreants of all ages.

Pinkerton flunks at all his lessons. The last straw is how inept he proves at CATCH THE BURGULAR.

If you ever loved a toddler who was on the disobedient side, you'll see why I'm giving this book with the elegant drawings... FIVE STARS.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Works for me much better than the other Pinkerton books. After all, a solution is found. And the destructive behavior is being addressed. Really, though, the trainer should have been ready for an untrained dog... I have no idea why the other dogs were even at the class.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pinkerton is a big lovable puppy that's big as a small pony who can't seem to learn his commands correctly. He is sent to obedience school, but nothing seems to help. But Pinkerton's bad habits, and confusion of commands soon come in handy.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mt 5yo LOVED this book.

[wolf232 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the first books I ever read..

[Diana M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it’s a great and funny book for kids. My kids were cracking up, Page after page,don’t let your dog do what Pinkerton does.

[BRADY]

fuunny book. Wif lot of good joks

[Jolyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an okay book. The illustrations are cute, and it was nice to see the family learn how to work the Pinkerton.

[Casle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my first reading, my 1000th. This book cracks my grandson up every time we read it.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute art style, a classic.

[Carissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan of the violence at the end of the book....being held at gun point. That's a little heavy for a picture book. But I suppose that was acceptable content in the 70s.

[Ivy Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

The pictures of the burglar are too scary for little kids.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so adorable, and if you have a dog you can relate to this book! It's a great book and you can't help but love the illustrations and Pinkerton!

[Amanda Novak]

Owned as part of "Pinkerton and Friends" Treasury.