Kiddo’s Corner Reviews is my new feature here at The Overstuffed Bookcase, where my 5-year-old son reviews children’s books!

Want to know more about Kiddo’s Corner Reviews? Go here to find out more!

Go, Dog. Go!
Written by: P.D. Eastman
Published by: Random House
Published: 1961
Where we got it: Purchased years ago

Whether by foot, boat, car, or unicycle, P. D. Eastman’s lovable dogs demonstrate the many ways one can travel in this condensed, board-book version perfect for babies and toddlers. (Cover and synopsis from Goodreads.)

First Thoughts…

Kiddo: (Looking at the cover) “Why would a dog drive? I’m telling you a joke.”

Me: “Okay. Why would a dog drive?”

Kiddo: “No, I’m doing a different joke. Why did a gorilla go up a hill?”

Me: “I don’t know. Why did a gorilla go up a hill?”

Kiddo: “Because he wanted to see his family. He went up the hill to his home. But he got run over by a car. Actually, he didn’t. The car drove into the gorilla, but do you know what happened?”

Me: “What happened?”

Kiddo: “The gorilla ran.”

Me: “That’s it?”

Kiddo: “The gorilla ran to the top of the hill and to his home. He lived happily ever after. That’s the end.”

Me: “Okay… Let’s talk about the book now.”

Kiddo: “Okay.”

We read the book together.

Me: “So what is this book about?”

Kiddo: “Um, I don’t know.”

Me: “You don’t know?”

Kiddo: (shakes his head)

Me: “It doesn’t have much of a story, does it?”

Kiddo: “No. Actually, the dogs drive to the dog party.”

Me: “Anything else?”

Kiddo: “They have fun at the party. In real life they probably will, actually, have a good time at the party.” (I think his new word is “actually”.)

A Bit More Detail…

Me: “What’s your favorite part?”

Kiddo: “Let me look at the book again, actually.” (Looks at the book, laughs.) “When they eat the cake.”

Me: “At the dog party?”

Kiddo: “Yeah.”

Me: “What’s your least favorite part?”

Kiddo: “Uh, that’s hard. I kinda like all of it.” (Thinks a bit.) “My favorite part is the dog party but the part I like is where the bird crosses the road. But the part I don’t like? I don’t know. I like all of this book. Maybe when they fight. I think they are fighting right here.”

Final Thoughts…

Me: “So how many stars would you give this book? I normally do 1-5. 1 means I don’t like it at all, 5 means I love it.”

Kiddo: “6?”

Me: “6 stars?”

Kiddo: “Yeah.”

Me: “Did you like the drawings?”

Kiddo: “Yeah, that’s why I gave it 6 stars.”

Me: “Ohhh…”