Parents' Guide to

Not Afraid of Dogs

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Sweet, poignant story of overcoming fear.

Book Susanna Pitzer Family Life 2006
Not Afraid of Dogs Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

hatedogs
hatedogs Adult
September 22, 2018
age 18+

toddler fun? more like slobber done!!

i think this book was the absolute worst one i've ever read to my class! they didn't even bother taking an AR test because they didn't even understand the plot! nor did this have any story arcs! i wouldn't bother reading this! such a disappointment

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

"I'm the bravest boy of all!" says Daniel. But he is afraid of dogs. "I'm not afraid of dogs," says Daniel. "I just don't like them." So he avoids them as best he can, even climbing up a lamppost to avoid a dog-walker.

But when his mother agrees to take care of his aunt's dog while she travels, avoiding it becomes even harder. He locks himself in his room, and refuses to come out even for dinner. "He's afraid," says his sister. "Am not!" yells Daniel from his room. But a midnight trip to the bathroom during a thunderstorm, only to find the terrified dog huddled behind the toilet, brings out a feeling in Daniel stronger than his fear: compassion.

Is It Any Good?

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

Susanna Pitzer shows the story in simple, clear text that lets readers draw their own conclusions. Before the text even starts, Larry Day draws readers in with his enchanting illustrations on the cover and endpapers, combining borderless pen-and-ink drawings with watercolor and gouache paintings. Pitzer's knack for family dialogue is matched by Day's vivid depiction of body language. Together, the two become more than the sum of their parts.

This happens most poignantly in the confrontation between boy and dog, when Daniel's compassion for the terrified dog wins out over his fear and, in a beautiful spread, he drops to his knees to gather the dog into his arms, both of their hearts pounding. This provides a surprisingly strong climax to an already lovely book sure to be cherished by both dog lovers and those who maybe have a bit of fear of their own.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the situation the author presents. Why do you think Daniel is afraid of dogs? How does he overcome that fear?

Book Details

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