Bad Dog

February 15, 2014
A preschool-age boy narrates this short early reader, a straightforward story about a mischievous dog and the boy who loves him. The brown-and-white dog, Tom, creates problems wherever he goes. He yanks the tablecloth and sends the dinner to the floor. He leaves fleas in the parents' bed. He knocks over the flat-screen TV during Dad's football game. Tom even lifts his leg on Mom's special sunflowers. Worst of all, he irks the family cat, Kit, who one night escapes. Tom is threatened with eviction from the family but is redeemed when he helps the boy see where Kit is hiding. This short but complete story is told in succinct sentences with just a few words per page, often the repeated admonishment "Bad dog, Tom!" set in a speech balloon. Though this is intended for new readers, toddlers who are just transitioning into real stories will also appreciate the simple plot with its subtle message of unconditional love that endures even when someone is naughty. McPhail's gentle illustrations in pen and ink with watercolor washes are appealing as always, conveying both humor and emotion. Not every artist can convincingly portray a mother's surprise, a cat's frazzlement and a dog's laughter all in one illustration. Tom is full of curiosity, like a lot of young'uns. Not bad at all. (Early reader. 2-7)

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March 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-Clear, direct text focuses on Tom's many shortcomings. The pup yanks the turkey dinner off the table, knocks over the TV stand during Dad's football game, and urinates near Mom's prized sunflowers. Dialogue bubbles emphasize the family's response to the canine. As the annoyed father scratches his own leg, he says, "FLEAS! Bad dog, Tom!" However, when Tom saves the day after the cat goes missing, he gains a sense of belonging within his home. There's not a lot of fluidity to the movement of the characters, but the soft illustrations emphasize their natural reactions. Pen-and-ink and watercolor spreads set against spare backgrounds focus on Tom's interactions with each person. The repetitive text and large font enhance this selection for children just learning to read independently, and the message is always clear: "Tom is my dog./I love him when he is good./And I love him when he is bad." For all his naughty habits, Tom remains a cherished, four-legged member of his family.-Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2014
Grades K-1 The children love Tom, their dog. However, Tom's dog tendencies from bringing in fleas to tipping over the garbageare getting on the adults' nerves. He must go! Redemption comes in the form of Tom's ingenuity finding the cat, and his family-member status is savedat least for the time being. McPhail gives emerging readers a story told in both repetitive text and supportive illustrations. Speech balloons separate the narrative from dialogue. Part of the I Like to Read series, the book provides simple rhyming and sight words that are repeated throughout. Humor abounds in the large watercolor illustrations that aptly show Tom's exceeding badness, including pulling the tablecloth from a food-laden table and knocking over the big-screen TV. Readers may also make an emotional connection to a beloved pet as they witness the unconditional love the children have for their bad dog.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2014
Tom is a bad dog; he makes the narrator's mom, dad, and cat Kit mad. Just when "Dad says that Tom must go," Kit goes missing, and it's Tom to the rescue. Simple, repetitive text; mild tension; pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations with plenty of details for kids to notice; and lots of clean white space make this a good pick for beginning readers.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)