Be Gentle with the Dog, Dear! (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Be Gentle with the Dog, Dear! Deborah Stevenson Baek, Matthew J.; Be Gentle with the Dog, Dear!; written and illus. by Matthew J. Baek;. Dial, 2008; 34p ISBN 978-0-8037-3250-6 $14.99 R 5-8 yrs Poor Tag: "He's a lap dog, a gentle dog," and he'd have such a happy family life if it weren't for the not-so-tender ministrations of Elisa, the family's baby daughter. Her parents try to teach her to "be gentle with the dog, dear," but Tag is worn out with being squeezed and tackled, and he's finally had enough when she takes his favorite toy. A growl elicits a burst of tears, to which Tag responds with a sympathetic face lick, and it looks like the "gentle" lesson may finally be taking effect. At least until Elisa sees the cat . . . Though the logic isn't crystal clear (was it Tag's growl or the final understanding of parental teachings that made the difference?), the text is streamlined but wry, and its overt siding with the poor put-upon pup will quickly prompt kids to do the same. The art's even, diagonal brushstrokes suggest woodgrain or textured plaster, an effect enhanced by the paint's chalky opacity, while the simple black outlines and stylized draftsmanship confer a toylike yet two-dimensional appeal. We've had plenty of stories that offer pet proxies for dethronement anxiety; here's one about the simple grind of sharing space with a toddler that's sure to strike a chord with older sibs. Copyright © 2008 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois