Carl's Birthday

Good Dog, Carl #8

by Alexandra Day

Happy birthday, Carl! But can Mom surprise him? No way. As hard as Mom tries, Madeleine and her canine babysitter extraordinaire are hot on her trail, tasting the party punch, peeking at presents, and adding some of their own favorite decorations.

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

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1995

About the author

Alexandra Day, the beloved creator of Good Dog, Carl, is the literary persona of Sandra Louise Woodward Darling—an artist and storyteller devoted to the deep, joyful connection between children and animals. The beloved children's book author, Alexandra Day, is the literary persona of Sandra Louise Woodward Darling, an artist and storyteller passionate about connecting children and animals.

Born in 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Alexandra Day emerged from a creative family where painting was a cherished pastime. Four formative years on a hundred-acre Kentucky farm nurtured her deep connection to animals and literature, fostering the seeds of her future artistic vision.

Day and her husband, Harold Darling, founded Green Tiger Press in 1970, marking the beginning of their publishing adventure. Her breakthrough came in 1985 with Good Dog, Carl, a book inspired by an antique German illustration she discovered in a Zurich bookshop. The story was based on her own Rottweiler, Toby, and featured her granddaughter, Madeleine, as the baby.

Over the past four next three decades, Day has published twenty-four Carl books, selling more than six million copies. The series, featuresing a gentle Rottweiler caring for a baby and their adventures, is a beloved staple of children's literature. Beyond Carl, she also created the Frank and Ernest series, The Teddy Bear’s Picnic, and many other books.

After selling Green Tiger Press in 1986, Day and Harold started Blue Lantern Publishing. In 1993, they moved to Seattle and founded Laughing Elephant Publishing. Following Harold's passing in 2016, Day continues to run the company with her family.

When not painting Carl or working at her publishing company, Day can be found spending time with her grandchildren and tending her garden. Alexandra Day often visits libraries and schools with her dogs, promoting reading and the benefits of therapy animals. Her life's work celebrates the magical bond between children, animals, and storytelling.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is Carl's birthday and Madeleine's mother wants to give the family Rottweiler a surprise party. Madeleine and Carl are sent to a neighbour's house, but instead of taking a nap, they (of course) sneak back into their domicile, checking out the presents, sampling the cake and so on and so on. Again, almost wordless, with brilliant and wonderful illustrations, Alexandra Day's Carl's Birthday would be a cute and fun story to share with a child and especially a child who might have the tendency to be curious about his/her birthday party and wrapped gifts. However, the adult in me kind of does also feel more than a bit sorry for the mother and that her efforts to create a wonderful surprise birthday party for Carl are somewhat diminished by Carl and Madeleine's relentless curiosity. But although with Carl's Birthday, I do find how Carl and Madeleine rather manage to wreck the mother’s carefully planned birthday surprise a trifle frustrating and annoying, I am still going to be assigning a five star ranking and mostly because some of Alexandra Day's pictures for Carl’s Birthday are truly priceless and again leave me with very fond and nostalgic memories of our own (oh so goofy) family Rottweiler of my teenagerhod. The absolutely hilarious illustration of Carl trying on his new yellow rain-poncho leaves me laughing and totally reminds me of the expression in our own Rottweiler's eyes the one time my mother tried to get him to wear a doggie-sweater. His expression seemed to say (just like Carl's expression seems to say), "You really want me to wear THAT?" But for me, the most special, the most nostalgic illustration is the final picture in Carl’s Birthday of Carl, draped over the mother's lap. For yes, this really has me reminiscing, remembering how our Rottweiler used to drape himself over my mother's lap. It was Kipper's greatest joy, especially on the weekend, when my mother actually let him stay on her lap for an extended period of time (even though my father most definitely did not all that much approve).

[Book2Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE the Carl books. Started with Good Dog Carl, and there are many more. A handsome rottweiler has many adventures with his little girl and family. The words are sparse, but the art just wonderful. It invites you to look closely and discover. Makes me smile and sometimes laugh.
This is a great book to read to children, with delightful pictures. Children will still treasure the Carl books as they grow up.

[Erika ♥OwlwaysReading♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brings back childhood memories *happy sigh* :')

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 I love Carl stars

Rereading this series to my niece makes me remember why I LOVED it as a kid!

[Panda Incognito · Rating 2 out of 5]

Carl's family throws an extremely nice and well-attended birthday party for him, and no one notices the disarray and partly eaten cake left from him and the little girl getting into mischief when they were supposed to be at the neighbor's house. This installment requires far too much suspension of disbelief.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text-to-self Connection
When Ms. Baiden mentioned wordless picture books in class the other night. I thought of this book right away.

My daughter loved reading this book as a two-year-old. Although she was convinced it was the little baby's birthday, and that she was that baby. Nevermind that we have never owned a dog like Carl. We also had Carl's Masquerade and she liked that one as well. She wanted me to make up a story for that one.

Wordless books let children use their imagination, and without words the reader may feel more free to make things up!

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The entire carl the dog series is wonderful. Told with minimal language, most stories are set around Carl the Rottweiler taking care of a little girl named Madeleine. Sometimes there are more kids but mostly just her. These are great books, if as a parent, you can get past the fact that the parent goes off for a long stretch of time, expecting the dog to watch over the child. Certainly, these stories are set in a different age. They are wonderfully illustrated and kids just love these stories and the dog that e dry one wishes they had.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book in the series because I loved the concept of birthdays as a kid. The book is so colorful & fun in its birthday theme.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is Carl's birthday. Carl and Baby are sent next door for their naps while Mom prepares for a surprise party. But Carl and Baby don't sleep..they sneak in and drink punch, open gifts and get into the decorations. Somehow the Mom is none the wiser and thinks Carl is quite surprised when the party begins.

[Annie Smallwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carl’s Birthday is a great wordless book, as is the whole Carl series. This book shows the mother and others preparing for a party, while the neighbor watches the child and Carl. It is interesting for me as an adult even, because throughout the book it seems as though the party is for the child, but it is not (which if you pay attention to the cover pages you would know). The illustrations are very detailed but slightly old-fashioned.

[Charity Yost Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like all the Carl books we've read so far and how the illustrations tell the story more than the words. I also like the way they place a kinder light on a stereotyped breed of dogs. These storylines do encourage mischief; however, I'll keep renting Day's books from the library because the illustrations are gorgeous and my boys sit and watch me turn the pages as if they are watching a video.

[Lynnette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Illustrations are beautiful and well done. I don't mind wordless books and I think when my 15 month old is talking more wordless books will be great. But I don't like how mischievous the dog and the baby are in the series. It's also super unrealistic like who leaves their dog to babysit a toddler and a puppy? I don't mind fanciful but there is a line.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised to find only 1 word in the whole book 😂 illustrations are beautiful and def a fun easy read to the toddlers to fill accomplished. It’s also a fun one with preschool as hearing their responses to what is going on in the book is hilarious and creative! Def recommend for imaginary opportunities with kiddos 👍

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all the Carl books. The watercolor illustrations are beautiful and the storyline of Carl’s loving care of his baby sister are just so innocent and sweet. The antics the two of them get up to in secret are amazing. What an imagination Alexandra Day has!

[Erin *BookDragon_Library* · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Mostly wordless. Just text on the first and last page. I love the illustrations in this series. These are sweet books for any dog loving kid who will wish they had a Carl dog to pal around with when they were a toddler and get in to "trouble."

[Jessalyn Plant · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is so adorable. The artwork is just beautiful and the storyline is sweet. I did prefer Carl the Babysitter better just because I enjoyed the antics they got into better in that one, but this one is a winner too.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good "read".

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great colors!

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Carl and Madeleine hid the dog shampoo, I laughed out loud. Nice touch.

[Sarah Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous!

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our favorite part was the mom spelling out P-A-R-T-Y

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book with wonderful illustrations

[Danielle T · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 dog birthday, no notes!

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carl, the good dog and Madeline are sent to the neighbor's next door for their afternoon nap. Carl and Madeline sneak out to find out why they were not allowed to nap in their own house.

[Chelsea Gail Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carl's Birthday by Alexandra Day was a great picture book about an adorable dog getting into mischief with his friend Madeline. I wanted to read this book, because I am a huge dog person, and I was hoping it was going to be as good as it looked...which it was! I found myself laughing out lout at certain parts, especially when it showed Carl and Madeline napping on the bed together. This story was mainly a picture book with very few words. The words let you know that there was going to be a party but for who...we did not know. The mother asks a neighbor for Carl and Madeline to nap at her house while she sets up for the party. Little does she know Carl and Madeline sneak out of the house and try to figure out what was going on. Each and every picture was easy to follow and to tell what the two were doing. The illustrations themselves were drawn great, both Madeline and Carl were drawn very detailed. I think this also shows how much people should love their dog, and how important a dog can be in someones life. This story made me want to immediately go home and play with my dog. I would definitely want to have this book around for my children/ students one day.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carl books were suggested in a course for helping parents to work with their children to develop expressive speech. These Carl books have minimal words and many pictures to captivate children. Each time we look at these books we notice new details. Carl the dog is lovable, mischieveous, yet responsible. Delightful in every way and my little guy talks up a storm and his imagination gets sparked. Lovely illustrations too.

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We used this in a kindergarten lesson to increase the students' inferencing skills. With minimal words, students were able to infer whether or not the punch had enough sugar, if mom was throwing a big party, and if the party was still a surprise at the end of the book. Really excellent book, and the kids loved it, too!

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my Children's Literature class we are doing an author study on picture book authors. Alexandra Day is my author of choice. When I was little, I read this book and I remember really liking it. I think that it is good for little kids because of the lack of words and the easy to understand pictures. I really like it!

[Nancy Kho · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh lord, Alexandra Day, why did you have to write a book that my oldest daughter demanded every single day, WITHOUT PUTTING ANY WORDS IN IT? I had to improv the whole thing, and my delivery did not get better with time. I look forward to acting it out for the grandkids someday and loving/hating it anew.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

My future as a writer was cemented when I got this book and could not stand that it was wordless, so I added my own words. I would give anything for my old copy of this.

This series is weird -- a little baby sneaks around with a dog and makes a mess of things and somehow doesn't get caught. Also, that's an extravagant party for a dog.