A simple choice to play outside is the apparent cause of disaster in Foreman’s picture book.  In only a sentence or so per page, the story shows the havoc that can ensue when a boy meets a rambunctious dog.  Throughout the tale, the boy states in the narration that these are all horrible turns of events.  At least, until the end.  This story has many strengths, including its relative brevity and its rollicking rhythm (while not in rhyme, the repeated use of the title words give the text a driving pace).

However, there are a few things which could be improved. The pictures themselves are of varying sizes, sometimes taking up just a small portion of the large pages, sometimes filling an entire spread.  While the text is extremely conducive for large group sharing, the smaller-scale watercolors would be difficult to see from any significant distance.

Although this title has weaknesses, children will enjoy the bright colors, fast-pacing, and wild build of events in the story.  This is a fun take on the formula made famous by Laura Numeroff in If You Give A Mouse a Cookie, and will be a fun addition for many libraries.