crystal_e_fall's review against another edition
4.5
A book read on a whim at work because the synopsis sounded to heartwarming/heartbreaking to ignore, but I was surprised and so impressed at all the sweet, emotional, complex things the author managed to weave together in such a short book, and aimed at younger kids no less!
bokslukaren's review against another edition
5.0
A wholesome story about a traumatized dog, and a young boy whose parents are getting a divorce. A sad, but heartwarming children’s book. Written from the puppy and the boy’s perspective.
lady_mair's review against another edition
3.0
(3.5 STARS)
The ending feels a little clunky, but the overall sweetness of this story makes it an enjoyable read.
The ending feels a little clunky, but the overall sweetness of this story makes it an enjoyable read.
philomath_in_phila's review against another edition
4.0
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
I have been a fan of Eoin Colfer since 2001 when the first Artemis Fowl book, Artemis Fowl, was published. I had to jump at the chance to read his latest book, The Dog Who Lost His Bark.
The Dog Who Lost His Bark is a moving and uplifting story about a boy, a dog, and music's ability to heal and connect people. I used to work with first-grade students and they would thoroughly enjoy this story. As with any book you read to children, read this to yourself before you read it to them. Make sure you will want to reread it over and over to them because this is one they are going to request again and again.
The illustrator is P J Lynch. The Dog Who Lost His Bark is listed as his only work but his website, http://www.pjlynchgallery.com, states he "has won many awards including the Mother Goose Award, the Christopher Medal three times, and the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal on two occasions. PJ has recently been announced as the fourth Laureate na nÓg, Ireland’s laureate for children’s literature."
BTW, according to Goodreads, Eoin is pronounced Owen. Apparently, I have been saying it incorrectly for years.
This review was published on Goodreads on 7/1/19. This review will be published on Philomathinphila.com on its release date, 9/10/19.
I have been a fan of Eoin Colfer since 2001 when the first Artemis Fowl book, Artemis Fowl, was published. I had to jump at the chance to read his latest book, The Dog Who Lost His Bark.
The Dog Who Lost His Bark is a moving and uplifting story about a boy, a dog, and music's ability to heal and connect people. I used to work with first-grade students and they would thoroughly enjoy this story. As with any book you read to children, read this to yourself before you read it to them. Make sure you will want to reread it over and over to them because this is one they are going to request again and again.
The illustrator is P J Lynch. The Dog Who Lost His Bark is listed as his only work but his website, http://www.pjlynchgallery.com, states he "has won many awards including the Mother Goose Award, the Christopher Medal three times, and the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal on two occasions. PJ has recently been announced as the fourth Laureate na nÓg, Ireland’s laureate for children’s literature."
BTW, according to Goodreads, Eoin is pronounced Owen. Apparently, I have been saying it incorrectly for years.
This review was published on Goodreads on 7/1/19. This review will be published on Philomathinphila.com on its release date, 9/10/19.
caitann's review against another edition
4.0
I couldn’t bear to read the first two chapters of this book - it took two tries to get through them, and I almost considered not picking it up again because the abuse against this poor puppy by such hideous people was too hard to read, but I also couldn’t bear leaving the puppy in that situation - I had to see him get out of it (I also would have liked to see that abusive family destroyed, but you can’t have everything).
I cried when Patrick found him at the shelter, and when he was determined to bring him home despite all the odds and reasons not to - as an owner of a rescue dog myself with his own share of past trauma, I understood that determination 100% and loved reading about the rescue and the time and effort invested in his healing (it was such a refreshing change to read about a bond between a boy and a rescue “multigrain” with a heartbreaking history vs a perfect puppy with a blank slate, the more typical doggy hero of these kinds of books - and the patience and kindness required to help traumatized dogs (always possible, no matter what!), which I thought was a very fresh, worthy angle to bring into a book for young readers)!
I lost the thread of the story a little bit with the dog “singing” exact melodies back to the boy after the music initially brings him out of the crate (though that part was wonderful!) - while him singing these songs without prompt later on was very cute, it felt a bit farfetched, like it belonged in a different story, not this one of a boy and a dog rescuing each other from their own sadness and heartbreak. I also felt a bit betrayed by the boy bringing the dog BACK to the shelter, even though it was easy to see how his reasoning concerning having to choose his dad over his dog made sense in his head, but STILL. That part really, really hurt. All that being said though, I loved this book for Oz most of all - that puppy deserves the whole world and more - and the illustrations throughout were absolute perfection. I didn’t expect this little book to make me feel so much, but it packed an emotional punch bigger than any thousand page book I’ve read recently, and despite the fact that I feel as if it broke my heart more than it warmed it, you can always tell when you’re reading something important, and that was no exception.
I cried when Patrick found him at the shelter, and when he was determined to bring him home despite all the odds and reasons not to - as an owner of a rescue dog myself with his own share of past trauma, I understood that determination 100% and loved reading about the rescue and the time and effort invested in his healing (it was such a refreshing change to read about a bond between a boy and a rescue “multigrain” with a heartbreaking history vs a perfect puppy with a blank slate, the more typical doggy hero of these kinds of books - and the patience and kindness required to help traumatized dogs (always possible, no matter what!), which I thought was a very fresh, worthy angle to bring into a book for young readers)!
I lost the thread of the story a little bit with the dog “singing” exact melodies back to the boy after the music initially brings him out of the crate (though that part was wonderful!) - while him singing these songs without prompt later on was very cute, it felt a bit farfetched, like it belonged in a different story, not this one of a boy and a dog rescuing each other from their own sadness and heartbreak. I also felt a bit betrayed by the boy bringing the dog BACK to the shelter, even though it was easy to see how his reasoning concerning having to choose his dad over his dog made sense in his head, but STILL. That part really, really hurt. All that being said though, I loved this book for Oz most of all - that puppy deserves the whole world and more - and the illustrations throughout were absolute perfection. I didn’t expect this little book to make me feel so much, but it packed an emotional punch bigger than any thousand page book I’ve read recently, and despite the fact that I feel as if it broke my heart more than it warmed it, you can always tell when you’re reading something important, and that was no exception.
hayleycorr's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bookwyrm_lark's review against another edition
4.0
I’ll be honest: I picked up The Dog Who Lost His Bark because P. J. Lynch illustrated it, and I love Lynch’s art. It’s a cute and charming chapter book for a child. Told in third person, alternating POV between a puppy and his boy Patrick (and rarely, Patrick’s mother), the story touches on themes of animal abuse, family, trust, and love. Oz (the puppy) is totally endearing, and Patrick is as kind and caring a boy as you will ever come across.
The Dog Who Lost His Bark would be a lovely book to read aloud to youngsters, provided they are old enough to deal with the traumas Oz experiences in his early life. It might be especially good for a family about to adopt a pet, and for children experiencing divorce. As an adult I found Oz’s habit of putting important words in all caps a little annoying to read, and the book’s messages a trifle heavy-handed, but I would have loved the story in my early elementary-school years.
The book is illustrated throughout with pencil sketches, beautifully rendered (as I would expect from P. J. Lynch.) I missed the beauty and warmth of his color illustrations, though; the only one is on the cover.
Recommended for: early chapter book readers; reading aloud
Review originally published on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
The Dog Who Lost His Bark would be a lovely book to read aloud to youngsters, provided they are old enough to deal with the traumas Oz experiences in his early life. It might be especially good for a family about to adopt a pet, and for children experiencing divorce. As an adult I found Oz’s habit of putting important words in all caps a little annoying to read, and the book’s messages a trifle heavy-handed, but I would have loved the story in my early elementary-school years.
The book is illustrated throughout with pencil sketches, beautifully rendered (as I would expect from P. J. Lynch.) I missed the beauty and warmth of his color illustrations, though; the only one is on the cover.
Recommended for: early chapter book readers; reading aloud
Review originally published on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
darthchrista's review against another edition
4.0
We are familiar with both this artist and illustrator so of course we are going to read it. My daughter read it aloud to me as part of the RAR 31 day read aloud challenge. It was so heartwarming and ALMOST made we want a puppy. Still a hard no, but almost. We enjoyed laughing together and feeling sad together. A great read.
perrilous's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced