All Shoe Dog wants is a loving home, so when he is finally adopted he thinks his life is now perfect. Unfortunately, his new owner's house is full of terrible, delicious temptation: shoes, shoes everywhere. Shoe Dog can't help it; over and over he settles in for a new snack, even after being repeatedly punished for it. Can Shoe Dog ever be reformed?
While the illustrations in this book are adorably quirky and they bring the text to life well, I find the story itself depressing. Every time Shoe Dog chews another pair of shoes I cringe, knowing that, once again, he has put his only chance for a loving home at risk. And every time his new owner ostracizes him or screams, "Bad, bad dog!" at him it makes me sad. Yes, many dogs need training, but the owner's reaction seems unnecessarily harsh. My discomfort is only somewhat assuaged when Shoe Dog finally learns his lesson -- for the time being, at least.
EL (K-3) -- NOT RECOMMENDED. Reviewer: Caryn
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