Say Hello to Zorro!

Zorro and Mister Bud

by Carter Goodrich

Mister Bud is a dog of routine. He has wake up time, nap time, rest time, dinner time, etc. And everyone knows to follow his schedule.

Then disaster strikes.

A stranger comes home at "make a fuss time" and throws everything off! Zorro is little bit bossy and Mister Bud wants nothing to do with him. But when the dogs discover they like the same things (like chasing the cat and napping), everything becomes more fun. As long as everyone follows the schedule.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Dogs, Animals, Friendship, Storytime, Humor

48 pages, Hardcover

First published March 22, 2011

About the author

Carter Goodrich has illustrated sixteen New Yorker covers and was the lead character designer for Despicable Me. He has designed characters for many other beloved animated films, including Brave, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc, Open Season, and Ratatouille, for which he won the International Animated Film Society’s Annie Award for character design. A Rhode Island School of Design graduate, he has twice been awarded the gold medal from the Society of Illustrators in New York. His other picture books include Say Hello to Zorro!, A Creature Was Stirring, and The Hermit Crab.

Reviews

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great dog book from tommy!

this one tells the story of mr. bud, a dog who is very set in his ways: when he eats, when he is taken for a walk, when it is nap-time...

but then - OH NO - A NEW DOG MOVES IN!!

and this dog has his own opinions about how things are going to be.



can they find a way to live together? and share? and find compatible activities in which to engage?

probably. this is a kid's book after all.

but awwww

i love zorro. he is the really grouchy-looking pug on the left. do you see how grouchy he is?? and he is bossy! and he hogs all the stuffed animals! i have no idea who he reminds me of, but it is someone very cute.

carter goodrich draws dog-expressions so well. (RISD grad - woot!) especially angry dog-expressions. the one of zorro chewing on the stuffed bunny is so funny, it cuts through any black mood i might be in.
zorro!!!!



if ever i have the space for a pet dog, i am going to get many pet dogs, so they can have adventure-time together and they can entertain me when i am blue.

for now, i have this book.

ROOF!



thanks again, tommy!

come to my blog!

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is incredibly adorable and very amusing. The dogs’ schedules are just about right and the doggie behaviors are captured well.

I could have done without the cat chasing, and a little bit more interaction between dog and human family members would have made it feel even more authentic. But it’s a really cute story. Kids who love and know dogs are likely to enjoy it and it would be a perfect book for families who are about to welcome a new child into the family.

And, yes, schedules are very important to dogs, and dogs can wrap their humans around their little (or big) paws.

Loved the illustrations. I found Mister Bud cuter than Zorro but all the illustrations were sweet.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have liked to see a little involvement from their owner -- does anyone who has a pet not think that introducing a second animal could be complicated? And both dogs are in serious need of some training -- but otherwise it was very cute and an accurate portrayal of doggy behavior and routine. I'm looking forward to reading this with my niece.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED the other two books in this series, and now I finally get to discover how Zorro and Mr. Bud first came to be housemates.

Mr. Bud was quite content living as an only dog. He had his schedule all worked out, and nothing ever changed until one day his owner arrived, during greet and make a fuss time, of course, with a strange new dog named Zorro. At first the two pooches DO NOT get along.



Until they discover they have more in common than they'd ever have guessed . . .



This is a delightful beginning to a wonderful trilogy. I highly recommend these books to dog lovers of all ages.

[Steph Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids and I really enjoyed reading this book. We've been in a slump recently reading Little White Rabbit over and over again, but I finally convinced my 3 year old to try one of her other library books out. She LOVED it.

Mister Buds has his routine down pack and one day it is all interrupted with a new addition to the family: Zorro. My daughter loved the reactions the two dogs had to each other. It was very comical. When Zorro climbed on the couch, hugged his toys close, and yelled at Mister Buds,

"BEAT IT!"

we both fell out laughing so hard. Soon, however, he discovers that having Zorro around is not as bad as he originally thought. It's definitely a book that needs a permanent residence on her shelf.

More reviews and more at Cuddlebuggery Book Blog.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and humorous story about Mister Bud, the one and only pampered pooch at his house where everyone knows to follow HIS schedule. When one day a new dog arrives to join the family, Mister Bud is not pleased. He doesn't want to share anything with Zorro! But, soon, he realizes that they have the same schedule, and that maybe it's more fun with two. Very charming and humorous, dog lovers will appreciate this story. It could also be a good choice for families with a new baby in the house as it shows how, though it takes some adjusting and learning to share, it will be worth it in the end.

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun quick children's story. Nice enough drawings.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this! I think most of it is in the illustrations, which are simple but very telling. I love their expressions! Parts of this I think I get even more because I have lived in a home with a dog (or two). Very understated humor which I loved, too. I really enjoy the two dogs eventually getting along--most of the time (and a message is there should you choose to see it!). Very fun. Not quite a storytime choice since the children wouldn't be able to see the priceless and telling expressions as easily. Still, pet-lovers might still get some out of it in spite of that. Lap-reads would be so enjoyable with this.

10/10/12 & 10/11/12: Tried this in my Cats & Dogs preschool theme. Both groups enjoyed the book. Some humor they might not quite have gotten, and some concepts (like not always getting along but trying) went over the very young. But overall it worked. I made sure to explain what a schedule was, and then they got that part. The responsive group had a great time in "mimicking" the schedule.

11/19/14 Used in Animal theme. Young kids and adults both enjoyed it. I prefaced it by explaining a schedule using things they do every day (wake up, eat, nap, go to bed) completely forgetting those are the things referenced in the book.

2/1/17 Used in D preschool theme. Once I explained the schedule, they loved it. Yay!

[Margaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite dog book ever.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't write a lot of reviews but I just have to say something about this one. What initially grabbed me was the illustration style - incredibly expressive characters and full of real action. Coming from a character designer for animation I can't say I'm surprised.

What really impressed me, and has had me showing this to a bunch of people, is the simplicity of the story and how true the dog relationships are between Mr. Bud and Zorro. I have seen the new dog/old dog scenario play out in my house many times since childhood and this story captures that experience perfectly!

[Wendy Holliday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wednesday Night Working with Celeste on the Kid's Floor! pt. 2

this book is adorable. If you're a dog lover/owner, go read this book. You'll find yourself inserting your dog into the story.

Mister Bud had it pretty good. Everything was just right. He has a schedule, and he does all the things that I'm sure 99.9% of all dogs love to do.

"THAT WAS IT. THAT WAS THE SCHEDULE AND EVERYBODY STUCK TO THE SCHEDULE."

UNTIL: Zorro appears.

My dog is totally like this ... and, so is my son, but let's stick with dogs shall we?

The nose on Mr. Bud is SO CUTE!!

[April Thompson Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a stickler for a schedule, so I can completely understand the importance of them!

Simplistic book, with a great story and cute dogs.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: Mister Bud had it pretty good. Everything was just right. He had his own house. His own bed. His own toys. His own dish. But most of all...he had his own schedule. And everybody stuck to the schedule.

Premise/plot: Mister Bud is a dog who likes things his own way. This book is about when a new dog, Zorro, comes. Everything changes, but, are the changes for the better or for the worse? Will Zorro and Mister Bud get along?!

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. I loved the schedule bits! I really liked how these two resolved things! Definitely recommended for dog lovers of all ages.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

[Woody Chichester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an accurate portrayal of pug life

[Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute book about two dogs getting along.

[Halina Hetman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Смішна в своїй правдивості книжка про собак, яка нагадає кожному власнику, що насправді найбільше цінують його собаки (спойлер: Ні, не вашу любов. Розклад дня).

[Erik Annan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read to my 1/2 grade special education class. They really enjoyed the interactions of Zorro and Mr. Bud.

[Brunette Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

     It’s always hard when your parents bring home a new sibling...or when your entire existence is upset with an addition that you clearly weren't’t expecting. That’s exactly the situation that poor Bud is in when his family brings home a new dog named Zorro!

       Used to his schedule, Bud is a very particular pup. He knows when he sleeps, he has specific times for his outside excursions, and he greets his humans in a certain way. One day his family brings home a new dog who upsets everything he ever has done. Zorro is a bit onery too, and likes his way too. Yet as the two dogs get to know one another, they both realize that sometimes two are better than one, even at dinnertime!

      A creative and cute story perfect for children who are getting new sibling or even for families who may be combining children, I found myself laughing out loud at poor Bud. He was completely over having a new dog in the house. Great illustrations and a perfect story for read alouds, I can easily see this being a favorite with kids. Short simple sentences make it a great choice for early readers and lets face it, its just plain funny. Heck, I’m almost 30 and I loved it! I’m gonna go beg for more books by Carter Goodrich now!


This review was originally published at The Brunette Librarian's Blog

[Halley Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever wondered about what your dog's daily schedule is like, Bud and Zorro can tell you all about it. Bud was just fine being the only dog. He had his schedule, and made sure him and his owners stuck to it. One day, though, his schedule was interrupted. At greet and make a fuss time, a new dog came in with his owner! His name was Zorro. The two dogs did not get along at all. They each didn't want to share their own things with the other dog. However, one day, they discovered that they had the same daily schedule! Doing things with a friend was much more exciting than doing them alone. Even though each dog still had its own imperfections, they became best friends due to their common traits and accepted the bad in each other.

This book would be perfect to read to a young child who is expecting a new baby in the family, and is not exactly thrilled about it. The book presents important morals for children in a playful manner. The exaggerated features of the dogs make them both instantly goofy and likable. Bud has a huge nose, and Zorro has a huge mouth for being such a small dog. The eyes are also very expressive, and show how each dog is feeling. The author uses a lot of white space, so that the audience will focus on the dogs, and their activities. There is not lot of distracting colors or details, which is nice. You would be able to employ comprehensive questioning and predictive questions easily with children due to the predictable flow of the story. I would recommend this book for children in grades K-2.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mister Bud had a great life. He had his own bed, his own toys, his own dish, and best of all, his own schedule. His schedule had plenty of nap time, meal time, and walks. Everyone followed the schedule. Period. But one day, the schedule was interrupted when a stranger showed up. Zorro, a new dog, was moving in with them. At first it was tough and there were fights, but then both Mister Bud and Zorro realized that their lives were a lot better together. And everyone followed the new schedule. Period.

Goodrich writes with a real sense of comic timing. The book reads aloud beautifully, often using a page turn to add to the suspense of a sentence. The growing friendship of the two dogs is a pleasure to read. Especially noteworthy is the fact that neither dog changed their personalities as the book progresses, but rather found common ground for their friendship.

The illustrations make great use of the white background. They tell the story with visual humor that adds to the book’s tone. The colors are bright and friendly. Best of all, the illustrations capture emotions perfectly. There is the joy of a walk, the quiet of a nap, the anger of a new dog, and the silent lean of a dog waiting to be fed.

Pet lovers, this is a book that you will relate to immediately. A great addition to any dog story time, this book will also work for friendship or new sibling units. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun story that depicts the importance of our daily routine and the disturbance created when a new member of the family arrives. The book has a simple narrative and fun illustrations. We enjoyed reading this story together. I also enjoyed listening to the elemetary school librarian read this book aloud to our youngest daughter's second-grade class. It's an entertaining book to read aloud.

This book was selected as one of the books for the July 2013 - Cats and Dogs discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dog is very happy with life and his schedule, until another bossy dog is introduced. However, they discover that they have the same schedule and two can be more fun. Very cute, but I am not sure that the idea of a schedule is quite understandable for a young crowd. I might have to try it for my dog story time in August and see how it is received. 7/11

I tried this with my PJ Storytime since there were some older children, but it didn't go over big. 7/31/12

Used this year for Story Time. A few children seemed confused, but overall it was well received.

[Mary Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

No longer having small children, I usually don't read picture books anymore, let alone review them. But when "Say Hello To Zorro!" crossed my path, I found the cover so delightful that I had to read it. I found the book delightful, too. In the interest of full disclosure, I find my snorting, flatulant, slobbering boxer and her submissive sidekick delightful also, so keep that in mind when deciding if my review is one which you should find trustworthy. Definitely for people who know, love, and are - yes - delighted by dogs.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is on the 2014 Monarch list.

What a gem! This was so fun. Mister Bud's schedule, Zorro's arrival, their conflicts, the resolution--what a great story arc. The text is funny and perfect and the art compliments & extends. This is as much a funny story about dogs as it is a parallel to sibling rivalry. I loved it and my boys did, too.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently this is the story of my dogs, Zorro actually looks a small amount like Oscar. I wouldn't go so far as to say my dogs are now best friends though, more like room mates who share the same schedule.

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a day in the life of my dog. I loved it and thought it was an accurate portrayal of the day to day activities of your average house pet. Points for also being a potential useful tool for the "hey...I know you don't want one but you are getting a sibling" situations.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Say Hello To Zorro! By Carter Goodrich – Completely perfect book for teaching others about being flexible, beginning a discussion on adapting to others. Plus it is a doggone adorable book with dogs making the most precious expressions.

[Celebrilomiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, and amusing, with two of the doggiest dogs I have ever seen in literature. The story is nothing of particular note, but the illustrations make the book superb. Huzzah for actually-doggy dogs.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect story. I love the expressions on the dogs faces.

[Aimee Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will the new dog in the house throw off Mr. Bud's tight schedule? Or will he make a new friend? Youngsters will love these two pups!