Dogs

Simon, Seymour. DOGS. New York: HarperCollins, 2004.

PLOT SUMMARY
This book is all about dogs. It is as simple and factual as it gets. The book starts off by discussing the history of dogs and where they came from. It then goes on to talk about dogs senses and how they do what they do. The topic of the birthing process is next in which the author discusses how puppies are born and when it is safe to have them away from their mother for a pet. After that, the book details several different types of dogs and what they were bread for. The end of the book is addressed to children explaining the responsibilities it takes to have a pet.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DOGS is a concept book all about the single topic of dogs. Although I find the information to be accurate, I am not an expert in the field. The book does not include any direct quotes or input from experts on dogs. In fact, the book does not include a reference list or bibliography explaining where the author got his information. There is no way for the reader to know if the information is fact or the author’s point of view.

There is no table of contents or index for the book so readers must go through the entire book to find the topic they wish to read about. The book starts with a history of dogs in general and how they connect with humans. It then goes on to explain breeds of dogs in more detail. By the end of the book the author has come back to the topic of dogs and humans and how they can live and work together.

This book was obviously written for a young reader. The sentences are short and concise and the words are easy for children to understand. The font is quite large and spaced well. The pictures are photographs of actual dogs. They add color and liveliness to the pages of the book. I often found myself starring at the pictures for longer than it would take me to read the page.

All in all this is a great information book for new young readers. I would not however use this book for a resource when researching dogs.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
The striking color photos, including many close-ups, create a feeling of intimacy. Readers will thoroughly enjoy every word and every photograph. SLJ

Simon's always lucid prose is matched by sharp photos, most of which fill up the pages. An attractive way to introduce children to nonfiction. BOOKLIST

CONNECTIONS
This would be a great book to use in a young classroom to teach about animals and the ways that they are different from humans. Read the book and then have the class brainstorm the ways the pets are different and similar to humans. This would be a great time to use a venn diagram.

Parents can also use this book as a guide to see if their children are ready to take care of a pet. Read the book together with your child so that they can see how much time and energy it takes to raise a pet.