Parents' Guide to Carl at the Dog Show

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Common Sense Media Review

Mary Eisenhart By Mary Eisenhart , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 4+

Once again, Rottweiler takes great care of his little girl.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 4+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 2+

Based on 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Everyone's favorite Rottweiler and his little girl, Madeleine, are at a fancy dog show, where her mom is helping a friend, who's showing Carl's brother. She tells Madeleine to meet her at Ring 8 and stay out of trouble. Fans of the series know how that's going to turn out, as the duo sample the event's delights in gorgeous, hilarious illustrations.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say : Not yet rated

You don't have to be a dog lover to love Carl books; their highly visual storytelling tickles the funnybone of kids and adults alike. Alexandra Day's colorful illustrations are rich with subtle, humorous touches that reward multiple visits. And the recurring plot of this long-running series (begining in 1985 with Good Dog, Carl), in which mischievous Madeleine manages to wreak all manner of low-level havoc but Carl (who actually scores Best Babysitter honors here) keeps it all under control, always brings a smile.

Budding dog lovers will especially love CARL AT THE DOG SHOW, which features canines of many varieties engaged in many activities and includes an informative glossary of dog breeds at the back.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the difference between the funny things in this book -- like riding on a dog's back, running around a dog show with just a dog for a babysitter, etc. -- and what happens in real life.

  • Kids: Did you know there were so many different kinds of dogs? Which ones do you like best?

  • Have you ever been to a dog show? If you got a chance to go, what do you think you'd like to do best?

  • Who do you think is the better champion -- Gamble for winning the ribbon, or Carl for taking care of Madeleine?

  • How do you think this book compares to others in the Carl series? Is it as funny? As interesting?

Book Details

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Carl at the Dog Show Poster Image

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