Easy Pets One Boy and His Dog Places
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Hal and Fleck seem perfect for each other; the dog and his boy spend a wonderful weekend investigating the smells and sights of the local park. But when Monday comes Hal is horrified to discover that his parents have merely hired Fleck - his dog has to go back to the rental company. The smouldering rage that Hal feels towards his parents leads him to become the reluctan I think I may have a new favourite book. This is such an elegantly written, touching, funny story. I only wish I had written it!
Hal and Fleck seem perfect for each other; the dog and his boy spend a wonderful weekend investigating the smells and sights of the local park. But when Monday comes Hal is horrified to discover that his parents have merely hired Fleck - his dog has to go back to the rental company. The smouldering rage that Hal feels towards his parents leads him to become the reluctant leader of a whole pack of runaway dogs. En route, the dogs have adventures and misadventures on their quest to find new homes.
There is a warm, old-fashioned feel to this book: the detective on their trail has a collection of fake moutaches (even if he did buy them off the internet) and their run-in with the circus has a very traditional feel. If I had a slight reservation about this book, it would be that this sense of the traditional extends to Hal's family. It would have been interesting if Hal's mum had been flying off to make money while Hal's dad spent it. But this was a very minor quibble in a book that I genuinely couldn't put down. ...more
After the first few each chapter becomes a story in itself. This was great for keeping him interested and provided plenty of character arch's within the main plot arch. There's just the right amount of character to stop the story for getting boring but also remaining consistent - with a carefully developed accent for each one my brother, S, soon learnt to differentiate between the characters and pick out his favourites. Then there's the dogs, S has had a dog for three years now and found it easy to relate to the creatures in the book. Even demonstrating actions to us with our own pup to show us his understanding.
This was definitely a fun read and a great little adventure. A fair warning to fellow dog lovers, there are a few moments which may well make your eyes water and your voice crack during this tale. But it all works out in the end! On the book it says '8+' but it depends entirely on your child and their own comprehensive ability. I will be sending this down to my five year old cousins in Liverpool next week for them to enjoy and I have no doubt this book will be well loved.
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One Dog and his boy is about Hal who's only wish for his birthday is to get a dog. Neither of his parents really want to get him a dog, but he's so dejected after that his father agrees to rent a dog for a weekend for him. Of course, they don't tell Hal the dog is rented so Hal completely falls in love his rented terrier mutt. But come Monday, Fleck is returned and Hal knows he must runaway with Fleck if they're to stay together.
T
This was such a feel good book! Also love Steve West's narration!One Dog and his boy is about Hal who's only wish for his birthday is to get a dog. Neither of his parents really want to get him a dog, but he's so dejected after that his father agrees to rent a dog for a weekend for him. Of course, they don't tell Hal the dog is rented so Hal completely falls in love his rented terrier mutt. But come Monday, Fleck is returned and Hal knows he must runaway with Fleck if they're to stay together.
This book was so damn adorable. It was so fun to escape into this book about dogs and their humans. Not only do we see Fleck and Hal's story, but several other dogs who escape the pet rental agency. Hal was such a sweet boy, and I loved how much he protected and cared for Fleck. I also loved the friendship Hal and Pippa developed. I'm glad the parents also realized they needed to reevaluate and rework their relationship with Hal.
Rep: white male MC, poor white female side character, Indonesian autistic coded female side character, Indian male side character. Several good doggos.
CWs: Blood, confinement, injury/injury detail, kidnapping (attempted), parental negligence, violence, xenophobia. Moderate: Abandonment of a side character.
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Lonely Hal begs for a dog and when his rich parents say, "yes," he is over the moon. Only problem? His shallow parents have actually rented a dog named, Fleck, for the weekend. They think Hal will get tired of the dog after 3 days. Instead he bonds with the dog and loves him deeply. Not wanting to tell Hal that Fleck isn't for keeps, the parents sneak him back to the rental place while Hal is at the dentist. Hal comes home, discovers the trick and is devastated. And angry. Ooh... he is one mad dude. He goes to the rental place, takes Fleck and runs away with the help of a friend on an adventure where he discovers not only how to make dogs happy, but his parents as well.
This light story has a happy ending, exaggerated characters, predictable plot and will be liked by animal lovers.The adults are dumb and buffoonish in most cases, except the grandparents. There are quite a few unbelievable spots but it is all in good fun. The story was a little slow for me but I'm not exactly a patient reader. I did enjoy how it made me think of our doofy dog and how much I loved her and hated her peeing all over the place. If you are getting a dog, whatever you do, DON'T give it a name that starts with that piddly letter "p."
Reading Level 6.3
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Hal has longed for nothing in his life like he longs for a dog of his own. But his wealthy and tidy parents don't want a messy pet in the house and don't understand Hal's feelings. When Hal meets his doggy soul mate - Fleck - because his parents rent him for the weekend, he can't just let him go b
The late, great Ibbotson's final novel for kids is a bit of a departure from her usual themes. It is essentially realistic fiction and is about the bond between a boy and his dog...and some other dogs.Hal has longed for nothing in his life like he longs for a dog of his own. But his wealthy and tidy parents don't want a messy pet in the house and don't understand Hal's feelings. When Hal meets his doggy soul mate - Fleck - because his parents rent him for the weekend, he can't just let him go back to the pet rental agency. Hal takes drastic measures and runs away from home, stealing Fleck in the process.
Kayley works at the pet shop but is home with the flu when her little sister, Poppy, takes care of the dogs on the night that Hal sneaks in. Poppy has always felt sorry for the dogs, so she let's out five others and they run away after Hal. Soon, Hal, Poppy, and all of the dogs are on a cross-country trip to find the true homes for the dogs and adventure along the way.
Told with the same heart, quirkiness, and laughs as her other novels, Ibbotson fans will enjoy this last entry and hopefully the dogginess of the title will win her new fans as well. I know she's my favorite.
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This is the story of how beautiful it can be when the right dog is with the right people.
My favourite quotes:
'Often and often when you wanted something and then got it, it was a disappointment ... But having a dog was completely different. He'd wanted and wanted it and when it happened it was even better than he'd thought it would be. He'd imagined some of it - the companionship and the warmth - but he didn't realise a dog would make you laugh so much, or nor that h
This is the story of how beautiful it can be when the right dog is with the right people.
My favourite quotes:
'Often and often when you wanted something and then got it, it was a disappointment ... But having a dog was completely different. He'd wanted and wanted it and when it happened it was even better than he'd thought it would be. He'd imagined some of it - the companionship and the warmth - but he didn't realise a dog would make you laugh so much, or nor that he would help you make so many friends.'
'A dog who belongs to somebody forever is a dog who is free.'
Beautifully illustrated by Sharon Rentta, it's a real joy to read.
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A lovely, quirky read that fills the heart with hope and joy .. even making you shout out loud to some of the adults portrayed .. that being said, the ending is exactly as you would expect ..
"Hal didn't mind what it looked like; it would be alive, and it would belong to him, and it would be there when his father was in Dubai and his mother was out with her friends and he was alone in the house with the maid who changed every month and was always so homesick and so sad."
Before his tenth birthday he v
All Hal Fenton ever wanted was a dog. His rich parents are never around, and in any event don't like messes, or spontaneity, or companionship – all things he knew he could get from a dog:"Hal didn't mind what it looked like; it would be alive, and it would belong to him, and it would be there when his father was in Dubai and his mother was out with her friends and he was alone in the house with the maid who changed every month and was always so homesick and so sad."
Before his tenth birthday he virtually bombarded his parents with pleas and notes, and finally his father said okay, but not to what Hal thought. His father was going to take Hal to the Easy Pets Dog Agency where you could rent a dog for the weekend. He figured Hal would get tired of the dog very quickly, and would hardly notice when they returned it.
But Hal and the little mutt Fleck felt immediate and mutual devotion, and Hal's mother had to trick Hal to get Fleck back to the Agency. Hal, desperate, prepared to rescue Fleck and run away. At the Agency, he won the assistance of the little girl Pippa who was helping to take care of the dogs. She not only went with him, but she freed all of Fleck's other dog friends in Room A. All of them headed out to Hal's grandparents, who Hal knew would be accepting. Along the way they were chased by greedy adults who were after the large monetary reward publicized for Hal, but the two children also made a number of helpful and wonderful new friends. The dogs too found "soul mates" along the way. Thus, Hal and Pippa and all the dogs learned what it meant to feel as if you were "home," and even Hal's parents started to learn as well.
Evaluation: How can you not love a book about dogs that don't die? ….Only in this case, it was the author who died, days before seeing the page proofs for this book. She left lots of adoring fans behind, including me. This book is meant for middle grade readers, but will endear readers of any age.
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All Hal wants in the world is a dog. His parents have so much money they couldn't possibly spend it all, and they shower Hal with gifts, but refuse to get a dog.
"Too smelly, too messy, and liable to scratch the furniture" are just a few of the reasons his mother gives for not al
'One Dog and His Boy' by Eva Ibbotson is her last book for children. This extraordinary writer and winner of many awards died days before seeing the uncorrected proofs of this book. She would be proud of the final result.All Hal wants in the world is a dog. His parents have so much money they couldn't possibly spend it all, and they shower Hal with gifts, but refuse to get a dog.
"Too smelly, too messy, and liable to scratch the furniture" are just a few of the reasons his mother gives for not allowing a living creature in the house. She doesn't allow living things outside the home either, having a garden that consists of raked gravel so no messy dirt gets inside.
Finally, when nothing else will make Hal happy, his father rents him a dog -- an adorable little "Tottenham Terrier" or rather, a pure mutt or mongrel (the book is British, after all).
When Hal gets home from the dentist and the dog is gone, he finds out that Freckle never was his permanently -- just rented for the weekend. After losing his dog, nothing matters to Hal. His parents tell him that the dog will forget him, and he believes them.
However, introduce a few quirky characters and fate -- and the result is Hal on the lam with Freckle, the younger sister of their caretaker, and several of the other rentable dogs.
They are on their way north to Hal's grandparents -- down-to-earth people who live a simple life on the coast. The adventures on the way, the people whom the children meet (both good and bad) and how they finally end up all involve a circus, a mon
Read the whole review at: http://www.examiner.com/book-in-natio...
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It's so very sad that Eva Ibbotson died just a couple of days before the proof copies were ready for her to see, she is a great loss to children's literature.
The story has a strong moral feeling throughout, yet is written to appeal to children of all ages. Younger children will enjoy the adventure story and older ones should take on board what Ibbotson is trying to tell the reader; that material things are no
I finally got around to reading One Dog and HIs Boy, and it really is a delightful read.It's so very sad that Eva Ibbotson died just a couple of days before the proof copies were ready for her to see, she is a great loss to children's literature.
The story has a strong moral feeling throughout, yet is written to appeal to children of all ages. Younger children will enjoy the adventure story and older ones should take on board what Ibbotson is trying to tell the reader; that material things are not as important as love and affection.
It is a story of determination and loyalty. Hal, the little boy who has everything, everything except what he wants most in the world - a dog. Fleck - the little dog who comes along and steals Hal's heart. The other ill treated dogs from the 'rent a dog' agency - each one of them a wonderful character in themselves. The people Hal meets during his travels - the circus staff, the abbot and of course Pippa.
A wonderful read that I enjoyed very much.
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And yet, I was completely charmed by this book -- which, although it is about many things, is primarily about the loyal and loving nature of dogs. The main characters in the book take a strange sort of odyssey, and the best bit of it is that a group of unique dogs all manage to find the right owner to belong to.
When I read Ibbotson's books I always feel that her character and all of her most strongly held
I'm not really a dog person; I say that knowing it is probably a huge flaw in my character.And yet, I was completely charmed by this book -- which, although it is about many things, is primarily about the loyal and loving nature of dogs. The main characters in the book take a strange sort of odyssey, and the best bit of it is that a group of unique dogs all manage to find the right owner to belong to.
When I read Ibbotson's books I always feel that her character and all of her most strongly held beliefs (and dislikes, too) coming shining through. Anti-materialist all the way, Ibbotson portrays a poor little rich boy who really only wants a dog to love and care for. She's a playful writer, but what I really love about her is the moral lessons she always imparts. "Morality" has such a stiff, starchy sound, but in Ibbotson's work it is something supple and responsive.
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Beautiful.
Heart warming.
I read this because it was on the Guardian's list of the five children's books every adult should read. If you, like me, get choked up thinking about abandoned dogs finding their forever homes, don't read this in a public place because you will cry. It's a lovely story of a dog and his boy, about finding yourself a All Hal ever wanted was a dog. Hal has everything he could possible want in his grand home with his wealthy parents "… but in the whole of the house there was nothing that was alive".
I read this because it was on the Guardian's list of the five children's books every adult should read. If you, like me, get choked up thinking about abandoned dogs finding their forever homes, don't read this in a public place because you will cry. It's a lovely story of a dog and his boy, about finding yourself and sticking up for what you feel is best for you. ...more
Really good.this book is really good and I would definitely recommend this book.it is really good and nice book.great book
The One Dog And His Boy is known to be realistic fiction and I can agree with that. A way I can tell it is realistic fiction is because of the setting and the other features of the text. According to "Fly Away Home" by Eve Bunting, it states"My dad and I live in a airport…" This is an example of realistic fiction because of the setting. An airport can be found in real life, so it is realistic. Another example is from Fly Away Home is " I know he's calling about an apartment. This is an example because an apartment can be located in real life. The One Dog and His Boy is realistic fiction because the text can contain objects and nature that can and do happen in real life. Characters can also be similar to others in the world as well.
I enjoyed "One Dog And His Boy" because it had amazing adventures with the a Boy and his dog. I like how the author put the story about the boy, Hal had to make a plan to keep his dog that he loves. This book was also interesting because of the different characters interacting with each other made it feel like i'm in the actual book. The book was successful because I was so hooked up to the book and it encouraged me to read more. I would recommend this book to everyone who is a dog person and loves adventures. I also recommend this book to kids mostly because this book can let them imagine what Hal is doing for the one thing he cares about. If you are looking for any book to read , I really recommend finding "One Dog And His Boy" and read an amazing adventure of Hal and his dog Fleck.
...moreShe was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1925. When Hitler came into power, her family moved to England. She attended Bedford College, graduating in 1945; Cambridge University from 1946-47; and the University of Durham, from which she graduated with a diploma in education in 1965.
Eva Ibbotson (born Maria Charlotte Michelle Wiesner) was a British novelist specializing in romance and children's fantasy.She was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1925. When Hitler came into power, her family moved to England. She attended Bedford College, graduating in 1945; Cambridge University from 1946-47; and the University of Durham, from which she graduated with a diploma in education in 1965. Ibbotson had intended to be a physiologist, but was put off by the amount of animal testing that she would have to do. Instead, she married and raised a family, returning to school to become a teacher in the 1960s. Ibbotson was widowed with three sons and a daughter.
Ibottson began writing with the television drama 'Linda Came Today', in 1965. Ten years later, she published her first novel, The Great Ghost Rescue. Ibbotson has written numerous books including The Secret of Platform 13, Journey to the River Sea, Which Witch?, Island of the Aunts, and Dial-a-Ghost. She won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for Journey to the River Sea, and has been a runner up for many of major awards for British children's literature.
Her books are imaginative and humorous, and most of them feature magical creatures and places, despite the fact that she disliked thinking about the supernatural, and created the characters because she wanted to decrease her readers' fear of such things.
Some of the books, particularly Journey to the River Sea, also reflect Ibbotson's love of nature. Ibbotson wrote this book in honor of her husband (who had died just before she wrote it), a former naturalist. The book had been in her head for years before she actually wrote it.
Ibbotson said she dislikes "financial greed and a lust for power" and often creates antagonists in her books who have these characteristics. Some have been struck by the similarity of "Platform 9 3/4" in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books to Ibbotson's The Secret of Platform 13, which came out three years before the first Harry Potter book.
Her love of Austria is evident in works such as The Star Of Kazan and A Song For Summer. These books, set primarily in the Austrian countryside, display the author's love for nature and all things natural.
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Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10388718-one-dog-and-his-boy