Good Dog, Carl : A Classic Board Book

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Summary: Headline: Baby barely survives escapade with dog babysitter
Review: So scary it's hilarious, this book had to have been the creation of one of those "my dog is my baby" people, whom we have to hope are, and hopefully remain, childless. A mother leaves her baby alone when she leaves the house, which is illegal, not cute, not a delightful opening for a children's book. Letting a baby go down a laundry chute, again, not cute. Letting baby swim--SWIM! A baby!--in a fish tank...
I won't go on, but if you want a kid's book to show to your adult friends and get a HUGE, dark laugh at, Good Dog Carl will make a great Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza present. If you want to share a story with your kids that doesn't defy fundamental parental instincts, try something, no...anything else.

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Summary: a wonderful work of fine art and FICTION
Review: The Carl books are wonderful, including this one. They are funny and fictional, as are most of the children's books I share with my son. We read about singing hippos and dancing dinosaurs and farting dogs, so why not a babysitting Rottie (a very sensible and responsible babysitting Rottie, I might add)?

I wonder if the significant negative response to these books is due largely to the very realistic style of painting which Alexandra Day uses in her illustrations. Would people be so upset if the same story were illustrated with cartoonish neon-colored characters? I love the paintings that illustrate these books; they are beautifully rendered and a nice change from all the flat cartoons in children's books.

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Summary: Try another Carl Book
Review: The dog "Carl" is left alone to babysit. If you read the other reviews, you will see people shocked by the antics (sliding down the laundry shoot, swimming in the fish tank, etc.) I have to agree that you don't want your child thinking these things are fun or funny. However, I recommend you try "Carl's Afternoon in the Park." Same idea (rottweiler left to take care of baby, which you may argue is disturbing in itself, but not if you take it in good fun as it is meant) without the really off-limits stuff that you don't want your child attempting. In this book, Carl, baby, and a puppy do things that you would do with your child (go on the merry-go-round, get ice cream, slide down slide, get their pictures painted). My son loves it... laughs at the dog getting water splashed in his face and the puppy sliding down the slide and toppling over the baby. And enough intrigue for an adult (nice to notice every artist is painting the dogs and baby using different styles). Beautiful pictures throughout. Over all, a good, beautiful, imaginative book.

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Summary: A must-have for dog lovers and parents of young children!
Review: The illustrations in this story are almost palpable. The story invites readers of all ages to join in with Carl and the baby on their adventure. This book is a treat to read and encourages young readers to use their imaginations at the turn of each page. The sturdy cardboard design makes it especially rugged and durable for the younger kids