Review by Booklist Review
Bartelby is a wire-haired dachshund that resides in a bookstore, and he is living his best life. He has lots of books to read, and each morning his friends take him on a walk through town. But there is one small problem: Bartelby is uncommonly long. While he blissfully trots down the street, receiving the occasional head pat, he loses track of where his bottom is and it is usually creating a bit of chaos. Patton's artwork capitalizes on Bartelby's obliviousness, often showing only his front half on one peaceful spread and his reckless rear moving through on the next, leaving car accidents and flailing people in its wake. One day, the disruption is so great that it gets Bartelby's attention, and he realizes he's behind the devastation. This story is pure charm and silliness. The illustrations mix collage with colored-pencil scribbles and childlike drawings that little ones will appreciate, not to mention laugh along with. A sweet and creative resolution reaffirms Bartelby's self-worth and the benefit of having good friends to lend a helping hand.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Just how long is Bartelby, the "sausage dog" resident of a bookstore? Long enough that he can't fit head to tail on a page of Patton's lighthearted book. On a walk with three children, Bartleby happily returns the smiles of passersby, oblivious that his "blundering behind" is creating mayhem: it triggers a pileup of cars, trips a pizza deliverer, and topples a ladder, sending a painter and his paint flying. Hearing the commotion, Bartelby circles back to investigate, determined to "get to the bottom of this and find the culprit!" This he does, biting the offending rear end-and thus identifying whose it is. Patton (Drat That Fat Cat!) adeptly highlights the story's physical comedy, and Bartleby's scruffy fur and expressive, bugged-out eyes make him a sympathetic pup. But the artwork doesn't always communicate clearly: how Bartleby triggers the car accident isn't entirely evident, and the children's solution to prevent future incidents (a yellow scarf and "long vehicle" sign are involved) seems more about making others aware of the dog than about keeping Bartleby "absolutely sure where his bottom is." Ages 4-8. Agent: Alli Brydon, Bright Group. (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-In this animated adaptation of the picture book by Julia Patton, Bartleby is a very, very, very long dog who loves to read books and go on walks with his friends. Bartleby's length sometimes leads to complications, and when the pup decides to hide in his bookstore home in order to prevent further accidents, his friends help him feel more comfortable while also allowing him to enjoy his life. A lively score and talented narration by Nick Podehl, featuring different voice pitches for different characters, truly brings this lovely friendship tale to life. An upbeat animated adaptation about what it means to be a friend and be yourself. © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
