Dogs' Night

by Meredith Hooper, Allan Curless (Illustrator), Mark Burgess (Illustrator)

Overview

Once a year, the dogs in the paintings in London's National Gallery have an exciting night out. For a few hours, they escape their gilded frames and are free to run up and down the grand staircases, chase each other round the marble halls, and explore the other exhibits. But four of the dogs overindulge and sleepily climb back into the wrong paintings. When the mix-up is discovered, the museum's popularity soars! This playful story, with superb illustrations by Alan Curless and lovely reproductions of National Gallery paintings, provides young children with a charming introduction to fine art.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781845076887
Publisher:	Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Publication date:	10/28/2006
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	36
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.50(h) x 0.25(d)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Meredith Hooper was born in Australia. An Antarctic specialist, she has made several research trips to the continent. In 2000 she was awarded the Antarctica Medal by the US Congress. Her books for Frances Lincoln include The Pebble in my Pocket, which is the only children's book ever to be shortlisted for the Dingle History of Science Book Award.Allan Curless was a political cartoonist for 16 years, working mostly for the Sunday Times. His first children's book, Cat's Song with Andrew Matthews, was shortlisted for the Mother Goose Award and the Smarties Prize in 1994. He died in 1997.Mark Burgess has written and illustrated over 40 books and illustrated a further 40 by other authors. He lives in Taunton, Somerset.

Editorial Reviews

The action is fast moving and children will become quickly involved in the humour of the story. the illustrations are as comical as the tale itself.

From the Publisher

If you've ever wondered about what goes on in an art museum at night, you may find your answer here. Meredith Hooper lets us in on a secret ritual that happens once a year: all of the dogs in the paintings come to life for an evening of rolling, chasing, skidding, and exploring. A little too much fun results in four dogs returning to the wrong paintings and having to stay that way for the whole year (until the next Dogs' Night). The mystery of the mixed-up dogs attracts enormous crowds to the museum. Then, as suddenly as it all began, the paintings are back to normal--only the dogs know what really happened. Children are introduced to some of the art in the National Gallery in London, then challenged to look for dogs in the art on their next visit to their own museums. A fun follow-up will be to share Nina Laden's The Night I Followed the Dog (1994), another tale of dogs out for a night on the town. 2000, Millbrook Press, Ages 6 to 12, $21.90. Reviewer: Carol Lynch

Children's Literature - Children's Literature

K-Gr 2-These are not ordinary pets but dogs that actually live in paintings in an art museum. Once a year, they secretly celebrate "Dogs' Night" and run wild. This year an evening reception at the museum delays their party but compensates by providing leftover food and bubbly for the canines to enjoy. When the clock strikes midnight, four of the tired, giddy animals mistakenly return to the wrong paintings. Only the dogs know the real story, but they have to wait another year to set things right. Happily, their mischief makes the museum famous. The action is fast moving and children will become quickly involved in the humor of the story and the antics of the pups. The illustrations are as comical and whimsical as the tale itself. An addendum identifies the four featured paintings from the National Gallery in London. After reading this lighthearted fantasy, young readers will never again be intimidated by a visit to the museum.-Patricia Mahoney Brown, Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, Kenmore, NY Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

School Library Journal

This lighthearted addition to books about art for children combines art appreciation with a twist. Once a year when the museum is empty, dogs in the paintings have their special night out. They romp around the museum and, just at midnight, jump back into their frames. This year, partygoers had food and fizzy drinks in the gallery and the dogs enjoyed the leftovers. When the revelry was over, four dogs jumped into the wrong pictures. A young girl points out the mistake and everyone is astounded. People line up all year to see the unexplainable. A year passes until the next dog's night out when, dissatisfied with their new surroundings, the dogs move back to their right places. Hooper's (The Drop in My Drink, 1998, etc.) text is fast and funny, filled with descriptive phrases matched well by the illustrations. Curless, a London political cartoonist, did the initial drawings, but died before he could complete the illustrations; Burgess finished the work in his style. All the dogs pictured are reproduced from paintings in the collection of the National Gallery in London. A picture index of the featured paintings is a useful addition. Text and illustrations combine to make an amusing read and one that will compliment other more serious works about art for children. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews