Pugdog

Rating:
Summary: Pugdog love
Review: Just look at the cover of PUGDOG, you'll fall in love.

PUGDOG is a winning character, (regardless of her breed) and a winning book. To the critics concerned that this "Pugdog" is not a pug, I have this to recommend you do: re-read the first two lines of the book! They explain everything. It reads. "Mike didn't know much about dogs when he got his puppy. He named it Pugdog, just because" Mike DOESN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT DOGS, he doesn't even know the sex of his dog - how could he accurately know the breed?

I think the people that get caught up in the exact breed of this lovable dog are confused, and TOTALLY missing the message of gender identification and unconditional love that is PUGDOG. Not to get too nit-picky here, but aren't pugs officially referred to as "pugs" not "pugdogs"??

I'm a defender of this book because PUGDOG is so unusual in its content and message. How many picture books have you read that deal with gender issues? And in a smart, accessible, and not-didactic fashion??

Add to all this the fact my son ADORES Pugdog - whatever her breed.
Highly, highly recommended.

Just look at the cover of PUGDOG. You'll fall in love, guaranteed.

Rating:
Summary: A story worth drooling over!
Review: Pugdog is incredibly charming, beautifully illustrated, and very educational for children on gender identification. While some may fret over the accuracy of the author's illustrations of a technically correct Pug, I found the story to be perfect in its true aim: dispelling gender stereotypes and providing both parent and child with a funny and entertaining story. My own Pug (an relentless drooler by the way) has found sudden attention from my nephew, who will no doubt never be troubled by issues of gender in his life.

All who read this story, both young and old, will be won over by Pugdog's charm. I applaud the author for her beautiful artwork and wonderful story.

Rating:
Summary: Not a Pug
Review: This book is just as winsome as Pugdog... I am actually a lover of big dogs, but pugdog totally won me over with her oogly eyes, bulging belly and slobbery tongue. She is just so full of spit and vinegar. The drawings in this book make the story... pugdog is incredibly emotionally expressive, and the backgrounds simple and unintrusive.

This book can be read two ways... one a tale of forcing animals (people) to conform to gender stereotypes instead of their particular unique personalities... two a tale of expecting animals to conform to our skewed expectations of them to not be their normal animal selves. The story itself is verging on the ridiculous... I know of no dog owner who believes female dogs should wear dresses, not have bones or get tummy rubs. And it is actually a bit redundant to have the supposed female white poodle turn out to be a male once we have already understood the horrors of gender stereotyping and the facility of reading body type and behaviour as the wrong gender.

Fortunately the emotional dilemna of Pugdog is so strong as to overcome completely the highhanded didactic nature of the tale. And unfortunately I see this type of gender stereotyping several times everyday. As a Saint Bernard owner who sometimes dually walks a fluffy white bichon type dog, I always get "he's so big" and "she's so adorable with her little bow", although the Saint is female and the small dog is a male. I am always vaguely amused. Do they actually think that when litters of dogs are born, big chunky dogs are born male and fluffy little white dogs are born female? Imagine the birthing problems!

I think this is a wonderful book which should be read by adults as an amusing cartoon caricature of themselves, and by children, who will certainly identify more with the dog than the owner, and feel validated in their own personalities, whether or not these align with accepted gender roles. Pugdog is certainly adorable being a fat drooly dog who chases squirrels and digs holes no matter what her gender.

Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Witty, urbane and wonderfully engaging!
Review: This book offers the ultimate child-parent reading experience. _Pugdog_ is about dogs and people and how we tend to treat pets from a perspective that is based on and limited to our preconceived ideas and stereotypes.

The book teaches wonderful lessons about individualism and love. --Subjects that kids get immediately. I've read it to my niece and nephew countless times and they absolutely adore the book. I've had to buy them each a copy to keep them happy. What's better is that I enjoy it every time I read it because it's so smart and funny. The illustrations are fabulous and hilarious.

This is wonderful for young school aged children (ages 6-7) and older school age children (10-12).

Rating:
Summary: Sweet Book
Review: This dog is not a pug. I think that's part of the "joke" of the owner not knowing anything about the dog when he bought it. It's definitely a frenchie. Cute illustrations, and a great story. I highly recommend for both children and the adult french bulldog lover in your life.