This endearing book has been a family favorite since my oldest was a preschooler. Maybe it is because we are a family of dog lovers, but this ridiculous and enchanting tale of a dog babysitting a toddler is sure to hold your child’s interest. With hardly any words, this book is filled with gorgeous illustrations and funny situations.
Title: Good Dog, Carl
Author/Illustrator: Alexandra Day
Publication Year: 1985
Age Group: Preschool
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Comments: If you are a dog lover, you will adore this book. If you’re not a huge fan of dogs, you might get hung up on the fact that the entire premise is absurd. A mom leaves the house and asks her dog to watch the baby. Although there are no words once the mother leaves, the story follows the two non-verbal characters (dog and baby) as chaos ensues.
At the end, the dog cleans up and the mother is none the wiser (reminiscent of the Cat in the Hat). Your child does not need to have a big vocabulary to appreciate this book. Even the youngest children will enjoy this book. While I probably would not select this book for children who could read, even my bigger kids enjoy looking at the pictures when I read this one to my preschooler.
Recommended By:
- 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up
- The Read-Aloud Handbook
- Valerie and Walter’s Best Books for Children
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Michelle has a PhD in Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor's Degree from the California Institute of Technology. 
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