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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | J FICTION NOL | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | J FICTION NOL | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | J FICTION NOL | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Wildwood Library (Mahtomedi) | J FICTION NOL | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Down Girl spends her days protecting her master, Rruff, from Here Kitty Kitty and the neighborhood squirrels. But when Rruff invites Down Girl on a road trip, Down Girl knows she's in for an even bigger adventure. With her best friend, Sit, along for the ride, the fun really begins. These two dogs never know quite where they're going, but one thing's certain. When they hop into a car, they're sure to drive everyone crazy!
The popular Down Girl and Sit stories were inspired by Lucy Nolan's two setters, Nutmeg and Becky. The second book in the series, On the Road, recently won the Texas Bluebonnet Award, given to the children's book that won the most votes from children in the Lone Star state.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Narrated from a dog's point of view, this easy chapter book covers the hilarious antics of two canine friends who puzzle through and explain life with their masters. Even though this title is a follow-up to Down Girl and Sit: Smarter Than Squirrels (Marshall Cavendish, 2004), it stands alone. In one of the four episodes, the pups enjoy a car ride as their ticket to see the world. In another, while camping with her human, Down Girl turns into "Wild Dog" and stalks squirrels, surmising that they may be the creatures she had chased away from her home in the city. Then, she runs when a rabbit ("What kind of squirrel was this?") twitches its nose. A small black-and-white illustration appears on almost every page, supporting the text's humor. Anyone who has owned a dog can relate to these tales. Children will be delightfully challenged by the perspective and ask for more.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
(Primary) With so many beginning chapter books showcasing first-person narrators who relate stories from their own familiar frames of reference, Nolan's four short stories create a small challenge. Youngsters must notice both tone and point of view as canine protagonist Down Girl (first introduced in Smarter than Squirrels) relates her doggie observations about the human world she inhabits. There's her master, Rruff, so named because that's what she always calls him, an uninspired guy who never even sticks his head out the window when driving (but, as Down Girl notices, whose ears aren't very big and so couldn't flap in the breeze anyway -- ""Poor Ruff. I felt sorry for him""), and The Lady in the White Coat, who performs such indignities as clipping Down Girl's nails and looking in her ears. An introductory map puts the neighborhood in perspective, showing Down Girl's house; her best friend Sit's house; and the location of their mutual nemesis, Here Kitty Kitty. Numerous illustrations not only break up chunks of text for young readers but also outline the plot for those having difficulty with the words. There's a whole lot of skill development going on here, but the stories are so much doggone fun, readers won't even notice. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Down Girl and Sit are best friends. They are also dogs, dogs who enjoy the finer things of canine life, including chasing squirrels, bothering their masters and eating crumbs. The charming first-canine point of view really works here--partly because Nolan keeps her dog's voice steady and humorous, and partly because she really seems to think like a dog. The first of the four linked stories involves a drive to the beach and an exciting episode where the car's brake fails and the two dogs "drive" down the beach. Because Down Girl sees the world through canine glasses, the reader is treated to some amusing takes on dog behavior. For instance, when Down Girl and Sit find a bag of two doughnuts, they have to decide who gets them. "Hmm. There were two dogs, two masters, and two doughnuts. That sounded about right. Thank goodness dogs don't know math. That makes all our decisions easy. We ate the doughnuts." Kids will want to curl up with their best friend and laugh at the adventures of Down Girl and Sit. (Fiction. 6-9) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 1-3. This charming, hilarious follow-up to Smarter than Squirrels (2004) portrays the further adventures of canine protagonist-narrator Down Girl. A road trip to the beach with her owner, whom she calls Rruff; her best dog friend, Sit; and Sit's owner proves unexpectedly eventful as the dogs find themselves alone in a moving car, and curious Down Girl gets her nose pinched by a crab. A camping trip brings more excitement: singing at the campfire, eating hotdogs, and chasing squirrels. Even a car ride to the Lady in the White Coat for a nail trim isn't too bad: Down Girl gets a cookie and sees her despised feline neighbor, Here Kitty Kitty, contained in a carrier. Nolan's simple, peppy text is fun to read, and kids will enjoy Down Girl's escapades as well as her endearing naivete, which is visualized in witty, black-and-white art. --Shelle Rosenfeld Copyright 2005 Booklist
