Give the Dog a Bone

A variation on the familiar song, "This Old Man," in which an increasing number of dogs look for treats.

But then what happens? Why, it's one wild, slapstick adventure involving cobblers, cats, chickens, and much, much more. From poodles to Great Danes, an increasing number of clever canine companions join in the fun--and add up to a most entertaining counting book. Kellogg's witty reinvention of the classic counting song "This Old Man" makes numbers fun for the whole family.

Publishers Weekly

Kellogg's (Yankee Doodle) busy and buoyant art--rendered in colored ink, colored pencil, acrylic and watercolor--typifies his appealing style and kid-targeted humor. As his rhyming verse takes playful liberty with the traditional counting song of the title, full-page and panel illustrations introduce several old men, a handful of amiable kids and a canine cast that spans a variety of breeds. Kellogg depicts a colorful spectrum of scenarios: one old man, dressed in a cat costume, placates hounds with bones after they chase him into a tree; another thumbs his nose at the umpire who calls him out at home plate; a third steals six newly hatched chicks and, compounding his boorish behavior, refuses to hand out any bones. Supplementing the nonsense lyrics are lighthearted comments, presented in balloons, from both human and animal characters. As the tale winds down, the man who purloined the chicks returns to witness another hatching--this time eggs crack open to reveal ravenous raptors who announce, "Now we'll tell you what to do: Give us bones or we'll eat YOU!" Verse and visuals will send readers rolling back to page one to replay this romp repeatedly. Ages 3-7. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|