Expanded Description:
What's the best way to meet a dog and make friends? In this book, a dachshund named Harry shows you. Combining expertise and common sense, with an eye to both safety and fun, Harry's advice begins with one simple rule: Always ask the owner, "May I pet your dog?"
What reviewers are saying...
APDT CHRONICLE OF THE DOG
“When I’m out with my dogs and children walk up to me and ask, “May I pet your dog?” I always thank them as a reward for good behavior!
The children’s book May I Pet Your Dog? written by Stephanie Calmenson and illustrated by Jan Ormerod, teaches children how to properly approach and interact with a dog, and explains which dogs to avoid.
Children are first introduced to Harry, a long-haired chocolate-dappled Dachshund, and his owner. Harry, who is based on the author’s real dog, serves as the boy’s teacher through the course of the book. He offers advice in simple-to-understand terms, such as “Hold your hand out, with your fingers down. Let me come and sniff it. That’s how I learn about the world. I use my nose.”
Harry and his new friend meet a hyper terrier and a large mastiff. Each dog requires a different approach, and Harry guides the boy through each one. They also encounter a couple of unfriendly dogs. As a woman passes by with a dog who growls, Harry advises, “We’ll turn away our eyes. We’ll turn away our heads. We’ll stay perfectly still and quiet until she passes.” Harry also advises the boy to not interrupt a guide dog because he is working. The book concludes with tips from Harry and his friends, including never put your face close to any dog’s face, don’t run or shout around dogs and to be gentle and kind, because dogs have feelings, too.
May I Pet Your Dog does a great job of keeping messages short and simple, without being condescending to young readers. The illustrations are charming, even capturing a delightfully goofy expression on the mastiff when the young boy scratches his favorite spot.
While I’m a big fan of simple, straightforward messages, there is one area in which I wished the author would have offered just a few more details. When advising children what to do if they are ever frightened of a dog, she writes, “Make believe you are a tree. Or curl up on the ground and be a rock.” These can be interpreted in different ways. One child’s idea of being a tree could be to sway back and forth on the wind, while another could interpret her branches stretching out and down like a Weeping Willow. With a child’s imagination, it could also be interesting how many variations of a “rock” arise! So it would be nice if the author were to give a few specific directions, as she did when explaining exactly how to approach a dog.
In this same section, she states, “A dog may sniff a tree or a rock, but he will not hurt or chase one.” Maybe it’s the paranoid trainer in me programmed to worry about liability, but is this wise to assert? The author may have wanted to reassure her young readers and encourage them to follow her smart advice, but no one can guarantee canine behavior. Dogs should be less likely to hurt children who are still and are looking away, but we can’t predict that will be the case each and every time.
Overall, I would recommend this book to parents and teachers as a great way to introduce children to positive interaction with dogs. Harry is a good teacher!”
Teoti Anderson
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"PreSchool-Grade 2: A little boy learns from Harry, a dachshund, how to treat an unfamiliar dog safely and politely. Harry's friendly, gentle voice reminds the child to ask for the owner's permission to pet the dog, allow the animal to sniff his hand, and approach from the side. The pooch coaches the boy as he encounters an excited puppy, a guide dog, and an unfriendly canine. Cues such as growling and tail wagging are explained. Straightforward guidelines and a positive, encouraging tone make this book appealing and practical. Young dog lovers will delight in the variety of breeds shown in the bright, clear illustrations. Harry's advice will certainly come in handy, and dogs will appreciate the safety and consideration shown by readers who put the techniques into practice." (Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) Amanda Moss, Maywood Elementary School, Monona, WI
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