Dog Man Book Review

Dog Man by Dav Pilkey tells the tale of one crime fighting pooch.  Greg the dog and Officer Knight loved being police officers.  They were proud to serve and protect their community until that fateful day that they were outsmarted by super villain, Petey the Cat!

After incorrectly defusing a bomb, Greg and Officer Knight end up in big trouble.  Greg's body is dying while Officer Knight's head is dying.  The solution?  Sew Greg's head onto Officer Knight's body.  Who is this new crime fighting canine?  None other than Dog Man!

He returns to the police station to report to the chief.  News has already spread about Dog Man's greatness and the chief becomes jealous.  Sending Dog Man out onto the streets, he soon encounters Petey.  Will Dog Man be able to vanquish the feline foe?  Can he earn the respect of his chief?

I absolutely love this book!  This is the first graphic novel that I have read and found it to be a truly fun read.  Being an avid animal lover, I was immediately drawn to the character of Dog Man.  The idea of a dog patrolling the city and keeping it safe warms my heart and makes me smile.

I also love how the book contains more than just one story.  Each chapter offers a new Dog Man adventure.  My favorite was Weenie Wars.  I can totally see my dogs participating in this epic battle.

Pilkey's illustrations are hilarious.  I found myself laughing throughout the entire book.  The language used is very entertaining.  I love how he uses the word "supa."  This is definitely a fun story to read aloud.  The "notes" from Harold's teacher are beyond amusing.  My mother was an elementary teacher and I can totally relate to Harold's relationship with Ms. Construde.

This is a wonderful read for children ages 8-12.  I cannot wait to read more of Dog Man's adventures.

Stick Dog Craves Candy Book Review

Stick Dog and his friends return for another adventure in the seventh installment of the Stick Dog series:  Stick Dog Craves Candy.  While out on their nightly scavenger hunt for food, Stripes sees something terrifying.  Two witches in a house across the street!

Poo-Poo, Mutt, Karen and Stripes look to Stick Dog for answers.  Realizing that it must be Halloween, he and his friends come up with a plan to get candy from all of the houses in the neighborhood.  Can this band of pooches remain unseen in their candy quest?  Will humans spoil their Halloween fun?  Will anyone ever figure out what Karen is talking about?

I could not put this book down!  I absolutely love it!  Stick Dog and his hilarious canine companions are sure to tickle readers' funny bones.  I found myself laughing at their antics with every turn of the page.  I can also relate to Stick Dog's role as leader as he tries to deal with his friends in a caring and compassionate manner even when they frustrate him.

I also love how the pages of the book look like that of a notebook.  It gives the reader a feeling that he/she is reading a diary.  The unique spacing of text is very eye catching and makes for added suspense. 

Watson's illustrations are basic, yet adorable and funny.  Children will be drawn (no pun intended) to the characters of Stick Dog and his friends.  My personal favorite is Karen, the Dachshund.  Owning a Dachshund, I can easily relate to Karen's forgetful personality.

This is a wonderful book for anyone who loves Halloween and dogs.  Children ages 8-12 will delight in Stick Dog's adventures.  I cannot wait to read more books from this wonderful series.

Just Pick Us, Please! Book Review

Mercer Mayer's beloved little critters are back in a tale of furry proportions in Just Pick Us, Please!  Little Critter loves Gator's new puppy.  He soon discovers that the playful pooch came from the animal shelter.

Little Critter gets an idea.  The critter's school will host a Pet Adoption Fair!  The critter club works tirelessly on plans and flyers.  But when the big day arrives, only a handful of critters show up.  Can Little Critter and his friends find another way to get the animals adopted?

I absolutely love this book!  The dedication to animal shelters at the beginning is truly touching.  Being an avid animal lover and proud rescue mom to five dogs and three cats, I can totally relate to Little Critter wanting to help the animals.  This story would be perfect for humane education classes in animal shelters and rescue groups.

Mercer Mayer's characters are as lovable as ever!  Seeing the vast array of pets is both adorable and hilarious.  Mayer definitely has fun with his illustrations.  Children will love seeing the different animals and their funny facial expressions.

This is a wonderful story for the emergent reader as well as pet lovers of all ages.

Should You Foster A Shelter Animal?

Hope's Filming for Purina

Hope and I had a wonderful time at our filming for Purina yesterday thanks to the fabulous Switzer Film crew!  This incredible team was friendly and fun.  They took the time to get to know us an our story and loved getting to pet Hope and a day old kitten that we are fostering.

They truly love pets, which is evident in their work.  I was beyond gracious for how patient they were when trying to take pictures of Hope.  She is one active pooch and being blind and deaf makes her very challenging to photograph.

I would highly recommend Switzer Film for all of your filming needs.

Hope loved all of the attention from the Switzer Film crew!

Filming with this amazing crew was absolute fun!

Hope Featured on KMOV-TV

Hope Featured in The Freeburg Tribune

I am so excited that our blind/deaf Dachshund, Hope, is being featured in our local newspaper, The Freeburg Tribune.  A film crew from Purina is coming to our house next week to film Hope and learn more about her incredible story.  This film is part of Purina's Pawsitive Connections: Stories of Commitment, Triumph and Unconditional Love.

Eight stories were selected among thousands of entrants.  I am so blessed that Purina liked my essay about Hope and how inspirational she is to me!  The Pawsitive Connections video series will play in the Purina Farms Visitor Center theater throughout 2018.

Click on the link to read the full news article:

https://www.theuerkaufstails.com/uploads/3/2/3/0/32308085/hope_featured_in_the_freeburg_tribune_for_purina_filming.pdf

Hope is ready for her closeup!