Go Away, Dog (My First I Can Read)

A gentle and funny child's-eye view of overcoming doubts and meeting a new pet (or friend).

At first the boy doesn't want to meet a friendly wagging dog at the park—"Go away, dog!" he says. But as the dog fetches, rolls over, shakes hands, and otherwise works all its doggy charms, the boy starts to open up. "You like me, don't you, you old dog?" Maybe they can be friends after all.

This My First I Can Read uses simple, repeating words, making it a good match for the youngest emergent readers. The classic story is now accompanied by appealing modern full-color art by Paul Meisel.

Go Away, Dog is a My First I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for shared reading with a child. Books at this level feature basic language, word repetition, and whimsical illustrations, ideal for sharing with emergent readers. The active, engaging stories have appealing plots and lovable characters, encouraging children to continue their reading journey.

Joan L. Nodset was inspired to write this story nearly forty years ago after catsitting Ptolemy, a friend's lovably moody feline. Ms. Nodset is also the author of Go Away, Dog and Who Took the Farmer's Hat? and wrote Crocodile and Hen: A Bakongo Folktale under the name Joan M. Lexau. She lives in Otisville, New York.

Paul Meisel has illustrated many books for children, including Why Are the Ice Caps Melting?, Energy Makes Things Happen, and What Happens to Our Trash? in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. He lives in Newtown, Connecticut.