Little ones will enjoy the shenanigans of Big Dog and Little Dog. The two protagonists, a large dog of indistinguishable breed and a small wiener dog sporting a red shirt, are drawn simplistically in bold lines, but their cute faces and perky ears add distinctive personality. The bottoms of the pages remain the same throughout each chapter, whether it's red and white checkers, a wooden floor, or polka doted grass, providing some consistency. Almost every sentence begins with either "Big Dog" or "Little Dog..." so your little one will catch on quickly and be able to join in. Each of the dogs' adventures is separated into a different chapter, helping your child feel like they are reading a 'big kid' book.
While your read the fun chapters, you child will enjoy the humor, like when Big Dog is lonely and tries to join Little Dog in his little dog bed, or when Big Dog and Little Dog think a skunk is a kitty so they chase after it and get sprayed. Big Dog and Little Dog follow one another around like siblings or friends, so your child may relate to the feeling of always wanting to be near their brother, sister, or best friend. Big Dog and Little Dog's adventures provide great discussion and learning opportunities for your child, as they read about sharing, friendship, manners, and even baths!
My niece, Emily, has enjoyed this book for years. She has a Beagle named Charley, and a wiener dog named Oscar, so when her mom reads this book they replace 'Big Dog' and 'Little Dog' with 'Charley' and 'Oscar'. This brings the book to life for Emily and she likes to make up stories about the adventures that Charley and Oscar go on with her when no one else is around.
--Audra
