Dog Days of School

by Kelly DiPucchio, Brian Biggs (Illustrator)

Overview

Jealous of his dog's simple life, a boy makes a wish to switch places with his pet in this hilarious tale from New York Times best-selling author Kelly DiPucchio.

Charlie thinks his dog, Norman, has got it good: he gets to spend his days lounging on the couch or playing fetch, and he never has to do any homework. But when Charlie makes a wish to be a dog instead of a boy, things get a little topsy-turvy!

DiPucchio's signature humor and Biggs's bold, playful illustrations come together in a comical story that proves that the grass always does look greener on the other side (even if that side involves drinking from the toilet!).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786854936
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	06/17/2014
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kelly DiPucchio (www.kellydipucchio.com) has written several children's picture books including the New York Times bestseller Grace for President, Bed Hogs, Liberty's Journey, and Mrs. McBloom, Clean Up Your Classroom! A graduate of Michigan State University, Kelly lives in southern Michigan with her husband and three children.

Editorial Reviews

04/21/2014
It’s an entire week of Freaky Friday when Charlie’s wish to forego school and live a dog’s life results in a magical swapping of places with his pet, Norman. The dream sours when they both encounter the “long, boring, awful” aspects of the other’s existence (grooming appointments, stories about cats) and discover that bad behavior has its consequences no matter your species. DiPucchio’s (Crafty Chloe) tight, straight-faced prose (“On Friday, Norman ran into some trouble with the scissors and the glue”) is a great read throughout, but just as Gromit is funnier and more intriguing than Wallace, the humor and interest scales of this story tip very much in favor of Norman, who Biggs (Everything Goes) draws as a sort of kidney bean with droopy ears. Norman takes to kid life like he was born to it, creating a strikingly realistic hydrant out of clay and passing out after trying to finish a “triple hot-fudge banana sundae with extra whipped cream.” Reach for this one when the realities and routine of school require a little comic perspective. Ages 6–8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (June)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Dog Days of School:
NYC Reads 365
Texas 2X2 Reading List

From the Publisher

07/01/2014
PreS-Gr 1—Rather than face the grind of practicing his letters, drawing pictures, and trying to explain himself to his teacher, young Charlie wishes he could trade places with his carefree dog, Norman, on Sunday night. When his mother comes to wake him for school on Monday morning, it seems that his wish has come true. Hilarity ensues as Norman tries out the boy's activities throughout the week…with mixed results. He does fine with playing house, kickball, and maracas, but the teacher scolds him "for chewing his pencil, and the table, and her shoes." Meanwhile, Charlie stares out the window watching leaves fall, drinks from the toilet bowl, and endures a trip to the groomer. At week's end, and relegated to the backyard, Charlie wishes to be a boy once again. This clever text explores the "grass is always greener" notion with a deadpan delivery and Biggs's delightful, boldly outlined cartoon art extends the humor and brings down the (dog) house. The perfect choice for any reluctant scholars.—Luann Toth, School Library Journal

School Library Journal

2014-05-14
"Be careful what you wish for" is just one of the messages in this humorous book about switching places.Charlie is tired of school and all the letter practice and picture drawing. His dog, Norman, doesn't have to go to school. Charlie wishes on a star to be a dog, and the next morning, he and Norman have switched places. While the dog rushes off to school to enjoy writing, playing kickball and making clay sculptures, Charlie lies back, relishing the opportunity to get some extra sleep and watch the leaves fall. But as the week goes on, both Norman and Charlie begin to see the drawbacks of the new arrangement. Norman gets in trouble for his chewing habit and must listen to a story about cats. Charlie drinks out of the toilet and gets locked outside in the cold. One wish-upon-a-star later, Charlie couldn't be happier to wake up in his own bed and be going back to school. Biggs' illustrations, done in a bright palette of aqua, olive, purple, mustard, red and orange, are hysterical, as the two swap places but not bodies: The boy acts like a dog and vice versa. And while the people's faces manage to convey emotion with just a tiny mouth and dot eyes, Norman's droll expression never changes, adding to the farcical nature of the tale.The conclusion kids might draw? Going to school isn't nearly as bad as being a dog. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews