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lattelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I'm finally breaking into the children's lit world of Chris Van Allsburg...and it's bizarre and wonderful all at once. My first question for Van Allsburg would be: how do you draw like that??? How??? I mean, practice makes perfect, but that realism and the detail!!! Honestly, it's incredible.
Anyways. This picturebook has just the right amount of the fantastic and the bizarre, and I am HERE for it. Besides, who can resist a book where the dog gets the main character into some zany adventures and doesn't die at the end?? A+.
Review cross-listed here!
Anyways. This picturebook has just the right amount of the fantastic and the bizarre, and I am HERE for it. Besides, who can resist a book where the dog gets the main character into some zany adventures and doesn't die at the end?? A+.
Review cross-listed here!
sducharme's review against another edition
4.0
Bizarre and ending with a twist, this is a picture book for older children. Allsburg's black and white illustrations look three dimensional.
cimorene1558's review against another edition
5.0
I adore Chris Van Allsburg, and this is probably my favorite of his books.
mat_tobin's review against another edition
4.0
A Caldecott Honour awarded story that follows the exploits of a rather mischievous dog (who bites and exactly what he is told 'not' to do and Alan Mitz, the poor young lad who has been put in charge of minding him whilst the owner is away. Although the young boy has the measure of the dog at first, the hound eventually escapes and heads off into the neighbour's voluminous gardens. The great Abdul Gasazi though is a retired magician and one who has a particular distaste for dogs. What will happen to Fritz after the magician gets hold of him and whatever will Alan say to the dog's owner?
I've always loved Allsburg's illustrations. The deep and meticulous control of shading and line in pencils draw you in without fault and seem perfect for mirroring his themes or reality and fantasy. As always, the reading is encouraged to look closely at the pictures and consider what is subtly being said. The writing is, perhaps, a little too long winded at times but the mystery is as rich as ever. This was Allsburg's first picturebook.
I've always loved Allsburg's illustrations. The deep and meticulous control of shading and line in pencils draw you in without fault and seem perfect for mirroring his themes or reality and fantasy. As always, the reading is encouraged to look closely at the pictures and consider what is subtly being said. The writing is, perhaps, a little too long winded at times but the mystery is as rich as ever. This was Allsburg's first picturebook.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
Cute Caldecott Honor Winning picture book. But it's a dog story. It is a dog story, but with pretty impressively detailed black and white art. And a lot of text. But it reads well and fast. And is clever and tricky and funny.
minda's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5