Sally J. K. Davies (Children's Literature)
All three creators of this book share their boundless love of dogs with the reader. Both the words and the pictures are really in tune with dogs’ lives and they highlight some of the wildly different personality types that dogs display. The particular dog named in the title of the poem narrates each poem. The first poem is titled, “Puppy,” and most children will empathize with the puppy’s vision of the world. “Trees too tall. Sky too HIGH. Snow over my head. What if I get lost?” The word “tall” stretches out to show the idea of height. The word “HIGH” floats up in a curve over the sentence. The little puppy stares at the reader. Around him, muddy, puppy footprints smudge around the page and onto the opposite page where the poem appears. Schneider’s illustrations are gorgeous and show a true love of dogs. Glistening, jewel-like puppy eyes stare out at the reader, and the soft brushwork captures the soft texture of a puppy’s fur. All the poems are a joy to read with well thought out typography and page design. Mr. Beefy, the bulldog, likes to steal pies and other tempting food from his owner’s table. The illustration to accompany this poem shows a bulldog sitting lazily next to an upturned pie tray. Gus, the German Sheppard, likes to herd his people. Lucy, the beagle, nestles between her owners in their bed. Needle Nose is always opening things like refrigerators, pillows, and dog-cookie boxes. He can even open the mail with his nose. Tillie and Maude look alike but are opposites in behavior and temperament. Luke, the old dog and the last poem in the book, only wants to rest and dream. 2006, HarperCollins Children’s Books, $15.99. Ages 4 to 8.

CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices, 2007)
Thirteen illustrated poems, each in the voice of a different dog, capture distinctive canine personalities. “I want my people in a group. Like sheep,” says Gus. “I love the couch. It is mine,” says Lucy, adopted from a shelter. “I am not thin, but I am beautiful,” says Mr. Beefy, who concludes a description of how he loves to steal food with “Once I ate a PIE.” Petite Louis “used to nip. Now I BARK.” Darla likes to “bat the bell that hangs next to the door,” to tell her people she wants to go out. “I bat the bell many times a day. / The people are very tired.” Full of humor, wit, and affection, these poems have appeal that will go far beyond dog lovers. Captivating illustrations—portraits of each dog— accompany the poems. CCBC Category: Poetry. 2006, Joanna Cotler Books / HarperCollins, 32 pages, $15.99 and $16.89. Ages 5-9.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 2006 (Vol. 74, No. 9))
An appealing cover image of a charming pug invites the reader into this ode to canine companions by the mother-and-daughter team. Fourteen short, non-rhyming poems introduce a variety of highly individualistic dogs, with the personality of each one captured in just a few revealing lines. The poems are written in first person with an innocent viewpoint appropriate to a dog's egocentric perspective on the world. Abby "borrows" bones, balls and slippers (and doesn't give them back); Mr. Beefy the pug steals butter (or even a cherry pie) from the table; and Lucy, adopted from a shelter, sleeps between her owners with her own pillow and teddy bear. Schneider's expressive paintings add to each dog's character, skillfully capturing distinctive breed characteristics, with expressive eyes and playful postures that indicate thorough knowledge of canine behavior. Thoughtful design elements include a trail of paw prints leading from the cover through the front matter into the text, varying type treatments and a mixture of illustration perspectives. 2006, HarperCollins, 40p, $15.99. Category: Poetry. Ages 4 to 9. © 2006 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2006)
Every dog has a unique personality, as seen in these fourteen poems. There's the timid puppy who stays close to his owner; Lucy, adopted from a shelter, who claims everything is "mine"; and Pocket, who's tiny but thinks he's huge. The paintings of these appealing dogs add to their charm. Some of the shaped lines of text, however, are distracting. Category: Nonfiction-Literature. 2006, HarperCollins/Cotler, 40pp, 15.99, 16.89. Ages 5 to 9. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws.

Nancy Krial (The Kutztown University Book Review, Spring 2007)
This book contains free verse poems about fourteen different dogs which are all different breeds. Each page is highlighted with a beautiful illustration and an engaging poem told from the dog’s point of view. The fonts and type size change to reflect the poet’s words. This book gets its title from the poem about a pug called Mr. Beefy who relays that he is not thin but he is beautiful and once he ate a pie! The illustrations alone are reason enough to buy this book but the verse holds up its end as well. Open the pages and meet Darla, Maude, Abby, Wupsi, etc. each page makes you laugh at the mischief and movement of these canines. I recommend this book strongly as a read aloud for the very young and as a must have for elementary libraries! Category: Animal Story-Poetry.. 2006, Harper Collins Publishers, $12.95. Ages 5 to 9.