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Stanley’s Party

by Linda Bailey, Bill Slavin, illus.

Stanley knows the couch is off-limits to dogs, but his owners are out every evening and he’s bored. So one night he sits on the couch and nothing happens! Emboldened, he turns on music the next night, then raids the fridge. As long as he cleans up before they return, they are none the wiser and he remains a “good dog” in their eyes. Then Stanley decides to have a party and invite all the neighbourhood dogs. In the midst of the happy pandemonium, Stanley’s owners come home – early for once. The party is over, but his owners decide to take him out with them in future, which makes him happy. And his party becomes legend among dogs.

This is a funny, delightful book. Bailey’s text carefully maintains a dog’s-eye view of the world, and much of the humour lies in the clash between dog and human perspectives.The energetic text with its judicious repetition builds to an inevitable climax, butthere’s lots of fun getting there. The dogs are just the right combination of human and canine, and Bailey’s descriptions of the various mutts at the party are delicious. Slavin’s rambunctious illustrations are a perfect match for this wacky story. Even if you’re not a fan of real dogs, this book is a riot.

 

Reviewer: Joanne Findon

Publisher: Kids Can Press

DETAILS

Price: $16.95

Page Count: 32 pp

Format: Cloth

ISBN: 1-55337-382-0

Issue Date: 2003-1

Categories: Picture Books