 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Bad Dog, Marley!
- By John Grogan
- Genre: Picture Book
Common Sense Media says
Kids learn that even bad dogs have good days.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this inoffensive but slight book will intrigue kids who like to see a big mess.
What's the story?
Marley the dog moves in and chaos reigns. Will Marley be allowed to stay with his new family?
Is it any good?
Marley is a big, floppy, and ostensibly lovable Labrador retriever who turns the family home into chaos. Destroying glasses, eating chocolate cake on top of the refrigerator, and otherwise creating mayhem, Marley doesn't seem long for the family. While big sister Cassie and baby Louie love Marley they can't help but join their parents in a chorus of, "Bad dog, Marley!"
The book, a kid-sized version of bestselling memoir, Marley & Me, is uninspired with nice but uninteresting illustrations to match. The ending is pat and formulaic. Kids will likely cheer Marley's heroics but adults will be left yawning. And it still doesn't explain how the family learns to live with such a destructive canine.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about their own family rules and limits when it comes to pets. What sorts of things could the family in this book try when they're fed up with Marley? Even though Marley has proven his worth they still need to deal with his bad behavior. Kids can brainstorm ideas.
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Kid, 6 years old
May 17, 2012
AGE
Really funny
its really funny and my favourite part is when marley rips the sofa.
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| Author: | John Grogan |
| Illustrator: | Richard Cowdrey |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Picture Book |
| Publisher: | HarperCollins Children's Books |
| Publication date: | May 1, 2007 |
| Number of pages: | 40 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 4 - 7 |
| Read aloud: | 4 |
| Read alone: | 8 |
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