My Dog Ate It

by Saragail Katzman-Benjamin

Danny's decision to flunk the fifth grade deliberately is complicated when his teacher anonymously sends him a magical talking dog to do his homework for him

Genres: Childrens, Fantasy

166 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1994

Reviews

[The Bibliopossum · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story reads fairly well. I liked the worldbuilding behind how Homework acquired all his knowledge, and I liked the horse-blinder trick used to help a classmate at the quiz bowl finals.

However, I knocked this book down to three stars because of the conversations between Homework and Ms. McCardle. The author wrote out every sound the dog made, and it grew irritating.
Every whimper, every bark and arf. You read every one in a conversation where they understand one another. It could be condensed into "he whined" or "he howled in protest" and still get the point across in those beats of the story. And that soured the mood.

[Darya Kowalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a boy who didn't want to grow up and chose to fail grade 5. A dog named Homework was sent to him to encourage Danny to do homework again. The only problem is, Homework fails in his mission. Did Danny finish grade five? Did he start doing homework again? You'll have to read it to find out.

[Bailey Shapiro]

I love this boom how do u read it book*

[Saccharine Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's one in the morning, I can't sleep, I have a cold for the first time in several months, tomorrow is Monday (because screw you, it's only tomorrow when I wake up) and there's literally only two reviews on this gem. My body says no, my brain says no, but the fiery gap where my heart should be is screaming "DO IT, BITCH - YOU'VE GOT AN EASY SEMESTER ANYWAY." So...

were doing this man.
were makeing this shit hapen.

When I was a kid, I read this book over and over and over and over and over and over and over. It was a short but funny read.

Do you ever have those books that just speak to you when you're little, and then when you're older and you haven't read them in years, they're still following you around like a criminal record? That was this for me. I think I read this when I was seven or eight, and I'm not giving away my age, but that was quite a while ago.

And yet, ever since my very first time adventuring with Danny and Homework, I've always had random lines and concepts come back to me. Francy wanting to name the group "Hearts and Rainbows". Danny telling Homework that "stickers are for fourth graders." Tommy sipping his warm coke to calm his stomach. Tommy doing anything, really - he was always my favourite. Those simple, charming things have just always been there for me, floating around in the back of mind like a Gwen Stefani song, except less annoying and with less racial stereotyping.

I picked this book up today for the first time in centuries. (IT'S NOT MONDAY YET. SHUT UP.) It was the best hour I think I've ever spent. I always say children's books are my favourite books, and I don't think people believe me, but they really are. The characters in MDAi are fabulous - maybe it's just because they were big in my childhood, but reading this again today was like looking at an old photo album. They're real kids to me. If you told me that these kids actually lived on the very same street as me, I'd believe it. I would run outside to go and say hi and get some autographs and totally embarrass myself in the process, and it would be awesome.

So yeah, there's my one a.m. rant on a low-budget kiddylit from the '90s. I wish I could say more, but hey - short novels get short reviews, right?

[Vincent Kapaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the book My dog ate it by: saragail katzman benjamin. It is about this 5th grade kid named Danny that is trying to flunk so next year he won't be in middle school. The teacher ms.Mccardle has taught for more than four hundred years. She knows every possible excuse brought up. The biggest one was my dog ate my homework. The whole 5th grade class knew Danny didn't have a dog. One day though coming home from school he heard a sound in his room. He said his magic words ooey kaflooey kachoo,kachoo but nothing happened. He open the door to find a dog. The next thing he knew the dog was talking saying his name was homework. For a few weeks the dog wanted to help him study but because Danny hadn't turned in any homework for a while the issue Danny didn't study still. The dog started thinking maybe if i get him straight A's he will study but no. One day the principal came in and asked if anyone wanted to sign up for the big think off contest. Danny first asked if he gets any credit towards school the answer was no just for fun so Danny signed up. The thought he had was to show he was smart and wanted to flunk. Soon he got more people to join. They practiced every day some during school and some after school changing houses to study at. All this studying they were ready, they were scheduled to go second but the other team in first round never made it so.they were up and won. They went all day and got to last round versus their biggest rival westside. They battled each answering question tied at last question the team leader Danny knew this answer but was a split second too slow and right then they lost. The next school morning was closing in on end of the school year. Ms.Mccardle told Danny with all the studying he had enough credits to graduate to middle school. It was his choice to move up or stay for another year. At the graduation he stayed home with nobody knowing. He thought to himself if he should go.and move up. They called his name he never came they said it again and there he was running down yelling I'm here. So now young Danny was in middle school after expecting to flunk. That is the story of My dog ate it.
Thanks from: Vinny Kapaun

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't get into the premise of this one. It was too far fetched for my taste. Sorry to say I couldn't stay with it and stopped reading after chapter 2.

[Ahad · Rating 5 out of 5]

its awsome

[Abigail Chaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is like many others. I think it is ok. I wouldn't recommend it to those who like school!!

[Mas5thgrade2014 · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think that this book was a really good one because... it is about a boy who struggles with homework and a magic dog helps him. i do recommend it but its not in the class room any more :(

[Maile A]

This book is about a kid named Danny. He didn't want to go to middle school so he was planning on failing so he could get held back. But then a dog came and helped him and he ended up passing and going to middle school.