Mister Dog

I adored this book as a child, and so did all of my family. I can still remember asking my mom, "What's a conservative?" It continues to delight all of us. I'm 56, my mom is 84, my brother is 54. I just finished reading my brother's copy aloud to the three of us and we were all as charmed by it as we were 50 years ago. Margaret Wise Brown's writing and Garth Williams's illustration make this an enduring classic. I'm glad I was reminded of it in time to send a copy to each of my own grandchildren and their parents.

I, too, have looked everywhere for this book. My brother and I, both now out of college, still remember this being our favorite book when we were little. Our parents hated it because we made them read it to us every night. It's such a simple story about a boy and a dog who find each other and go home to eat a "green vegetable" together and go to bed, but it's captivating. I recommend it to any and all parents of young children.

I knew this would be a good book, when I saw it was written by Margaret Wise Brown. It proved to be true. I immediately fell in love with Crispin's Crispian, and his little home and life. The illustrations are charming. The story tugs at your heart upon seeing a little boy all by himself, fishing.... But you have to read the rest to see what happens. Don't go into this story with too much of an analytical mindset. It is just a wonderful children's story, that will be read again and again. It would make a wonderful bed time story, as it is happy and magical in a way. It definitely has an old fashioned sweetness that I just love. I am just thrilled that Golden Books have decided to release some of their old classics. I was starting to worry their for some time, when I had a hard time finding Golden Books like these in the stores. I loved it, and would highly recommend it.

I first read this book to my son when he was about 5. He loved the illustrations and laughed like crazy at the pictures of the dogs with their tongues lolling out of their mouths. We continued to read this book for many years. Now my son is 22 and he really does belong to himself. I asked him recently if he had patterned his life on the ideas in Mister Dog. He didn't even have to think before he confirmed what I always knew. This book's emphasis on self reliance and love for another is just that powerful. A must!!!

This book has been one of my favorites for years, so I was delighted that Golden re-released it this spring. (I've located abridged versions in anthologies, but here the story is intact.) This dog "who belongs to himself" and "dreams his own dreams" won my heart at an early age and stuck with me. Crispin's Crispian is both self-reliant and connected to others -- a terrific combination. Like his work in other books (including "Charlotte's Web," the Little House titles, and "Ride A Purple Pelican"), Garth Williams' illustrations are outstanding.