Charlie the Ranch Dog

I have kids 7 and 4 and I don't read to them often enough! I buy a lot of books and then expect them to get excited about the books and then we never read them. So, I ordered this book on Tues. and it was here on Thursday and I was so excited to read it to them. It was so much FUN! I was able to change my voice and talk "more country" (not hard since I am southern) and the kids enjoyed finding the squirrel on every page and hearing about this lazy lovable dog charlie. It was so well illustrated and it was fun to read. I took the book to my son's daycare today so they could enjoy it. BUY it!

If you, like me, tend to shy away from celebrity written books, especially in the children's arena, DON'T MISS this one! And if you've never heard of Ree Drummond it doesn't matter because this story is clever, fun & can take young readers vicariously to visit a ranch. Told in the dog's voice (very useful for teachers who need a read aloud to demonstrate voice)we join Charlie in a day in the life of a ranch dog. Another literary device that can be taught with this book is irony with Charlie's subtle, self deprecating humor. Students I read the book to love finding the little chipmunk on each page of Diane de Groat's charming, realistic illustrations. Not sure how the recipe for lasagna makes sense at the end--maybe chili would have been more authentic?

I received this book today and immediately sat on the couch with my boys (3 1/2 & 1) to read it. The 1 year old was mesmerized, for 3 pages. Which is 3 times longer than usual with a book he's not allowed to chew on! However, my 3 1/2 year old loved it. He found the chipmunk on every page, and he loved the fact that Charlie napped while Suzie was off doing all the work. It's not an exciting book, there's not a ton of action and adventure, but from what I have seen from Ms. Drummond's blog, Charlie is not very exciting or full of action. This book perfectly reflects its subject-- a lazy, sleepy, adorable dog. Definitely recommend it for preschool ages, and it has the potential to become a treasured favorite for kids as they grow up.

I am a preschool teacher who teaches about cowboys every year. I thought that this book may fit in to my plans well. I am amazed at how great this book it. First time children's author Ree Drummond finds a nice balance of sharing life on the ranch with the preschool set and telling a story about her beloved dog Charlie. As I read this to my focus group(my own 4 year old) she caught on quickly without being prompted to look for the chipmunk, and noticed that Suzie(the other dog) did all the work. When asked, Katy's favorite part was when the cows were eating the veggies out of the garden and Charlie howled at them! There are many good things about this book, and I thought the illustrations were delightful. What a fun peek into the world of a real working ranch for my city slicker preschoolers! :)

I've been a fan of Ree Drummond's blog for years. I own both of her cookbooks and her novel, so I knew I was going to love this one. I have a daughter with special needs who absolutely loves dogs and she requests this book by name every night before bed. We've read it so much I have it memorized and she anxiously awaits what Charlie will do on the next page as I read. Finding the chipmunk on each page has also become a ritual, and we make the animal sounds as we go. I loved this book so much that I purchased a copy for my daughter's classroom at the school book fair, and her teacher said all the kids loved it. Definitely a keeper!

My friend found this book at a local store, we have a mutual friend who had a Basset Hound named Charlie that passed away a few years ago. Since he was having a little girl we decided this would be the perfect addition to our shower gift just for him! His eyes welled up with tears when he saw it... This is such a delightful tale that I had to get a copy of the book for myself as well. It wasn't until I bought my copy on Amazon that i realized it is written by the woman who has a website I simply love called The Pioneer Woman! Not only is this site filled with amazing recipes, it has tons of crafty ideas and it's brimming with photography ideas and inspirations. I'm thrilled to once again find another reason the love The Pioneer Woman, Charlie the Ranch Dog is a wonderful book for any ranch or hound dog lover!

I first read this to my daughter 3 years ago I think; before she could read on her own. I just read it to her again as a bedtime story with my southern drawl that she gets a kick out of. I don't normally have an accent, but since I grew up in Texas I do a great impression. We always have lots of laughs and enjoy finding the squirrel hidden on each page each time we read it. There are very few books that can make you smile as much as they did the first time you read them, but this one does. My daughter can now read this on her own and I suspect that she tries to read it with a southern accent when I'm not around. I like the Pioneer Woman, but I was a little nervous about buying the book because alot of celebrities try to write books, but they aren't good. I'm thankful I decided to give this book a chance, because it's one of my favorite children's books now, right up there with Goodnight Moon and Where the Wild Things Are.

My daughter is picky when it comes to books but this one was an instant hit. She received it as a gift for her 2nd birthday because the Bassett hound main character looks a lot like our beagle. It is beautifully illustrated and humorous! We love the little chipmunk on every page that is still a fun "find it" game. Even I am not sick of it after reading it a gazillion times. I think this could be enjoyed by anyone young or old, especially dog lovers. I'm excited to read more of Charlie's adventures.

A great story with lovely pictures to look at

mon enfant adore! lire en anglais dès le plus jeune âge c'est un beau livre pour enfants, je le recommande!

Being a fan of Ree's blog, I felt a pull toward purchasing this book for my 3 year old for Christmas. We both find ourselves giggling at the wit and perception of Charlie. It's very easy to "play up" the story with silly noises and we both have a great time with it.

This is such an interesting and fun book for every child. Its also a very true portrayal of a basset hound's nature.

It bright,colourful and well written