My Dog Is a Hog!
Dogs and their amusing antics are the star of this energetic picture book, which traces human-canine relationships through time.
J. S. Silverstein pairs comedic storytelling with subtle history lessons in My Dog Is a Hog!, a picture book about the timeless relationship between human beings and dogs.
In multiple historical periods from 8000 BCE to the present day, dogs and their relationships with humans are depicted, with different breeds featured on most pages. Meanwhile, an unidentified narrator struggles to satiate their dog, who “loves to eat!” Whether through bones or belly rubs, they work to meet their peckish pup’s needs.
The prose is playful and utilizes jaunty end rhymes, as with “My dog is a hog, he always wants more. / If not from the table, it’s straight from the floor.” And the dog’s antics are amusing throughout, resulting in an energetic text.
The back matter includes educational animal facts such as that dogs “helped with herding livestock” in 3500 BCE, were “mighty guardians” in the 1200s, and served as “guard and patrol dogs” in the 1700s. A photograph collage of dogs alongside individuals of different ethnicities anchors the book’s central theme: “Dogs have always been there for us. As we are for them!”
Varied fonts, dynamic in their style and sizing, stand out against the computer-generated backdrops; many match their associated time periods, as where a script font is used to evoke the spirit of the 1700s. Some of the illustrations are blurry and pixelated, though. Others are absent nuance in their emotional expressions, and dogs are only shown sitting or lying with closed or open mouths.
My Dog Is a Hog is an imaginative picture book that celebrates humans’ bonds with their furry companions.
Reviewed by
Brooke Shannon
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
