Harry Goes to Dog School

PreS-Gr 1—Harry wants to be a dog, not a boy. He sits like a dog, barks at a kitty in the tree, and licks his sister instead of giving her a kiss. His parents want the best for him and send him to the Pavlov Royal Academy for dogs. Harry and his canine classmates get along and play very well together, until… dog food is served at lunch. Sharing his crayons, favorite superhero books, and block building with his new friends also becomes challenging. When his teacher asks if he wants to be her helper, he jumps at the chance and becomes a boy again, happily watching TV, eating ice cream, reading to his sister, and attending a school with boys and girls his age. Humorous cartoon illustrations in bold, bright colors are done in pen-and-ink and digitally colored. One particularly funny spread features Harry and the dogs at recess playing Frisbee, digging holes, and tossing a ball. Pair this book with Daniel Pinkwater's I Am the Dog (HarperCollins, 2010) or Kara LaReau's Otto: The Boy Who Loved Cars (Roaring Brook, 2011) for books with similar themes.—Anne Beier, Hendrick Hudson Free Library, Montrose, NY