I, Jack

I bought this book for my 7 year old daughter at her school book fair, along with several other paperbacks. She devoured it and kept insisting that I read it. I said ok, thinking I want to encourage her love of reading and knowing how much fun it is to recommend a good book to someone so you can then talk about it when they are finished. I did not expect to enjoy it so thoroughly, however! I laughed right out loud, highly recommnended it to my husband when I was finished, and read it to my younger son soon after I had finished it the first time. I laughed while reading it to him, too! If you've ever wondered what the heck a dog must be thinking to do what he/she does, this book is of tremendous help. I often find myself thinking in Jack-terms when dealing with our 18 month old Chocolate Lab. I just purchased the next Jack book and thought I'd take a minute to add my positive review of the first.

My 9 year old sons and I have laughed ourselves silly reading aloud this book. The author does a wonderful job of getting inside the mind of a big goofy yellow lab. Jack's "voice" could fit every labrador I've ever met. The boys could easily read it on their own, but reading it aloud is so much more fun. Even kids who don't like to read would have a hard time putting down this book.

Reluctant readers will actually clamor to read this book aloud to others because of the howls of laughter that ensue. Jack, in his exuberant love of life and canine innocence, is a most engaging character.

If you've ever known a dog, you'll get a kick out of this book. I bought it for my 9 year old nephew and he has enjoyed reading chapters outloud to the rest of the family. And be sure to check out the footnotes written by Jack's feline sidekicks. Fun for all apedogs, large and small. Respect, Respect!

What fun to experience the world through a dog's nose! Jack's narrative takes us on his adventures that center around his Pack of apedogs (human family) and the gorgeous girl dog that moves in next door. Jack expresses the full range of canine emotions from "happy dog" to "sad dog" which are tied closely to whether he is deemed "good dog" or "bad dog," and whether his tummy is full and is being rubbed. Though he is not quite as brilliant as Lassie, this loveable Lab will make you laugh out loud by the way he interprets life. The resident cats, who only barely tolerate Jack, interject their own superior commentaries in the footnotes for clarification. Illustrations, along with a "Jackspeak" glossary at the back of the book are helpful.Patricia Finney, Jack's interpreter, took her inspiration from her own pets, as well as Rudyard Kipling's "Thy Servant, A Dog," and also consulted books about dog psychology.