 | 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. |
Dogs Don't Wear Sneakers
- By Laura Numeroff
- Genre: For Beginning Readers
Common Sense Media says
Four-line, rhymed stanzas introduce wacky notions.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the silly stanzas seem unpolished and slipshod. An effort is made at the end of the book to pull readers into the verbal aspect of the imaginings, but then the prose aggressively dumps kids flat: "But tell me what you see? It's your dream -- not mine!"
What's the story?
Four-line, rhymed stanzas introduce wacky notions--"Moose don't go bowling / And hens never swim / And you'll never see roosters / working out in the gym"--through their denial.
The artwork takes any humor and runs with it, investing each of the critters with personality and milking each scene for all it is worth.
Is it any good?
There is little, if anything, to say about Laura Numeroff's verse. It feels unpolished and operates purely on the level of singsong, and that slipshod sense makes it eminently forgettable. An effort is made at the end of the book to pull readers into the verbal aspect of the imaginings, but then the prose aggressively dumps kids flat: "But tell me what you see? It's your dream -- not mine!" Why the question mark appears after the word see is anyone's guess.
Joe Mathieu's illustrations have the warm, cartoon touch found on Sesame Street, which is unsurprising, given that he has illustrated many books based on the program. That sure looks like Kermit's brother getting into that cab, and if that's not Big Bird's uncle riding that bike, it's his cousin. The creatures have been given the kind of personalities that make them rejoice in whatever it is they aren't supposed to be doing.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about silly rhymes. Find the rhyming words throughout the story, and try coming up with silly rhymes of your own.
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.
| Author: | Laura Numeroff |
| Illustrator: | Joe Mathieu |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | For Beginning Readers |
| Publisher: | Simon & Schuster |
| Publication date: | January 1, 2000 |
| Number of pages: | 32 |
| Paperback price: | $6.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 4 - 7 |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
