Dog Rules

Reviewed by: Mary Peverada - Portland Public Library, Portland, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 12, 2017

Review

(Title page has title of Bird Rules with the word Bird crossed out and Dog written over it)

Two dogs find an egg in a nest with a note. The note instructs them to sit on the nest, hatch the egg and teach the baby to be a good dog. Readers are in on the trick as they have seen a devilish black cat leave the egg, nest and note. The dogs fall for the set-up hook, line and sinker. Through all types of weather the dogs watch out for the egg with one dog sitting on the nest. The egg hatches and the baby bluebird imprints on the "bulldogish" canine. The dogs begin training the bird to be a good puppy - but the bird follows his own instincts. The canines finally cotton on to the fact that the baby is a bird - and they accept the baby with unconditional love and open arms. The cat arrives to gloat and laugh at the dogs being caught in her trick - but the baby bird turns the tables with a big "woof" - and scares the cat away. The illustrations use primary colors and have a comic-strip look. Good for reading aloud.

Overall Book Score: good