Review by Booklist Review
Ages 2^-7. In Carl's latest adventure, the children come to the beloved and gentle rottweiler, congregating outside his bedroom window and asking him to come outside and play follow the leader. Carl can be the leader! In typical dog fashion, Carl wakes himself with long yawns and leisurely leg stretches, and the mimicking children follow his lead. Then the group is off, balancing atop a low rock wall, chasing a squirrel, begging for treats at the bakery, admiring the toy store display window, rolling in the grass, fetching sticks, fording a stream, and then galloping home to collapse on their backs, paws (or legs) skyward, for a well-deserved rest. Day's almost wordless picture book once again lets her realistic paintings speak for themselves. Her knowledge and love of dogs and children, compounded by her keen imaginings of what they would enjoy doing together, bring joy to her playful depictions. Youngsters will delight in following Carl through these pages over and over again. --Ellen Mandel
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Day's latest does not lead the pack of her almost wordless picture books about the baby-sitting rottweiler Carl, but it nevertheless offers an idyllic vision to its readers. Carl and baby Madeleine are supposed to be napping when the neighborhood children approach the bedroom window and suggest a game of Follow the Leader. "You can be the leader!" they tell Carl amid the book's sole passage of text. Less mischievous than in his previous appearances (skipping out during naptime is Carl's only real prank here), the irresistible rottweiler conducts the children on a walk through suburban fields, pausing to lead them in stretching out their back legs, marching atop a short stone ledge, etc. With Madeleine riding Carl pony-style, they go to town, sit up and beg (successfully) for treats at a bakery and try out the revolving door of a well-stocked toy store. By the time Madeleine's mother comes to check on the nappers, everyone (including Carl's old friend the Irish terrier) is back in Madeleine's bedroom, striking sleeping-dog poses. Carl is at his doggiest: he has the kids rolling over, carrying sticks in their mouths and chasing a squirrel. Day's watercolors look so natural that it's possible to believe the story for a minute or two-certainly, the combination of grassy settings, friendly village shops and, of course, tender companionship adds up to an excursion virtually any reader would enjoy. All ages. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Horn Book Review
The rottweiler baby sitter and his toddler companion are up to their same tricks, sneaking out a window during naptime to play follow-the-leader with neighborhood kids. With Carl as leader, the kids perform such doggy antics as treeing a squirrel and begging for cookies at a local bakeshop. Fall colors enhance the lush scenery in this nearly wordless book. From HORN BOOK Spring 1999, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A game of follow-the-leader doesn't need words when Carl the dog is at the head of the pack. Day (Carl's Birthday, 1995, etc.) uses her familiar, expressive watercolors to tell this tale, wordless except for an energetic group of children's opening invitation (in dialogue) to Carl to come be their leader. Of course, that means that some of the actions the children have to follow will be more canine than others: Carl not only runs through yards, and bounds over walls, he also begs for biscuits, steals a ball, and dashes away with a stick in his mouth. The kids have great fun keeping pace, and when everyone is worn out, there is a surprised mother who finds not just Carl and toddler napping, but the whole gang of children as well, ``paws'' in the air, just like their fearless snoozing leader. This roving adventure is sure to inspire plenty of conversation among preschoolers anxious to help tell the tale. (Picture book. 2-6)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
