It's a Dog's Life: How Man's Best Friend Sees, Hears, and Smells the World

by Susan E Goodman (Author) David Slonim (Illustrator)

It's a Dog's Life: How Man's Best Friend Sees, Hears, and Smells the World
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Have you ever wondered what your dog sees when he looks at a sunset? Or what she smells when she has her nose to the ground? And what IS your pooch trying to say when he looks at you with those big puppy eyes? With a thoroughly silly text and adorable illustrations, IT'S DOG'S LIFE answers those questions and a whole lot more. Covering everything from dog breeds to their evolution and behavior, this accessible nonfiction book is sure to satisfy even the most voracious fact hounds.
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Publishers Weekly

A wisecracking dog narrates this off-the-cuff look at the "secret life" of his species. Goodman (See How They Run) opens with a brief overview of dogs' rapport with early humans and their subsequent roles (honed through breeding) as hunters, herders, haulers, and guide dogs. Noting "we take this best friend business very seriously," the canine narrator then offers an anecdotal discussion of dogs' sharp hearing, keen sense of smell, variable eyesight ("we're not the best at seeing details"), and methods of communication, including barking, tail wagging, and body language. Providing solid likenesses of a range of breeds, Slonim's (10 Turkeys in the Road) cartoons suit the upbeat, comedic tone of the text ("We pee on every rock and tree for good reason. Think of that telephone pole as a newspaper or pee-mail"). Additional information from "a human point of view" closes out the book and expands on topics covered earlier ("The section of a dog's brain devoted to smell is forty times bigger than in human ones"). An agreeable and enlightening jumble of facts and humor. Ages 6-9. (July)

Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-5--Susan E. Goodman's nonfiction book (Flash Point, 2012), with hilarious illustrations by David Slonim, explains the real meaning behind your dog's every move. Who knew they had such a secret life? All is revealed about "how man's best friend sees, hears and smells the world." For example, with 220 million special cells in their noses (compared to our mere 5 million, ), no wonder dogs are obsessed with sniffing the fire hydrants. Insights abound in this clever recording as the history of human-canine interaction is traced. The start of a beautiful friendship with dogs began as an epiphany: "Ah, a garbage disposal and watchdog in one!" So, humans began breeding dogs to do other work: hunting, guarding, herding, and hauling. In modern times, their superior snouts have been used to catch criminals, find missing people in rubble, and sniff out drugs and even bedbugs. While Johnny Heller provides a nuanced narration of the humorous text, the audio falls flat without a scrap of musical introduction or sound effects. With a Woof/English Dictionary included, it cries out for doggie sound effects at the very least to enhance the meaning and auditory experience. Point of view is contrasted through the use of a female voice articulating for people, while Heller's wisecracking voice expresses the canine. At the risk of sounding barking mad, a few well-placed yowls, woofs, or pants would have gone a long way towards transforming the audiobook into a rollicking, revelatory expose.--Lonna Pierce, MacArthur and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Binghamton, NY

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"An agreeable and enlightening jumble of facts and humor."—"Publishers Weekly"

Susan E Goodman
SUSAN E. GOODMAN is the author of several nonfiction Step into Reading titles: Monster Trucks!, Motorcycles! and Choppers! A dedicated journalist and adventurer, Susan will stop at nothing for a story, having gone so far as attending space camp, and flying aboard a cargo plane bound for the Artic Circle!

Photographer MICHAEL J. DOOLITTLE collaborated with writer Susan E. Goodman on the abovementioned Step into Reading titles, and the Ultimate Field Trip series, going so far as to dangle from rain forest trees, helicopters, and rooftops to get the perfect shot.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781596434486
Lexile Measure
770
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Flash Point
Publication date
July 20, 2012
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF003060 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Dogs
Library of Congress categories
Behavior
Dogs
Evolution
Beehive Awards
Nominee 2014 - 2014

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