Before I begin my day I wanted to share book number two in the Dog Days series! The other day, we read and shared Hazel Helps Out, and today we’re talking about another book from this series that I hadn’t heard of before receiving these two books but I know my nieces and nephews and grandson will enjoy this book just as much as Charlie and I did.
This one has a green cover, and before we get too far into the review, let me clear up something that might confuse you when you first look at the book. At the very top of the cover, there’s a bone with the words Dog Days written across it. Underneath that bone is the actual title of the book, The Old Dogs’ Club. So, if you’re looking for this book, now you know what to look for!
I love the cover! It has paw prints, a dog toy, a bowl of dog food, a bone, and a pen. Then there are two little boys and a little girl standing with their dogs. Looking at all those details makes you want to pick up the book, turn the pages, and dive right into the story. And that’s exactly what you want a children’s book to do!
Dori Hillestad Butler is the author, and Genevieve Kote is the illustrator. This is the second book I’ve shared from the series, and I’m already wishing there were more than just two books for me to read. I haven’t heard anything about another book coming out, so I can’t promise anything. But maybe we can ask Santa to put a bug in the author’s ear!
Before I share my thoughts with you. I have a question for you. I feel like a old dog some days. How about you? Now before we go to far down int the Rabbit Hole let me share my thoughts which you because this is the perfect book for our 10 Minute Reading Challenge.
The story follows Hazel, who comes up with a wonderful idea: the Old Dogs’ Club. The club is designed for senior dogs who still enjoy social interaction, mental stimulation, and exercise but might not be able to keep up with the intensity of a regular doggy daycare.
Hazel, KC, and Jonah convince their mothers and Hazel’s grandma to let them try their idea for the summer at Dog Days, the family doggy daycare. What could possibly go wrong when a group of kids gets together to help some older dogs enjoy life? Well, as it turns out, quite a bit!
Everyone is excited about the idea, but once they begin making plans, Hazel discovers that everyone has a different opinion about how the club should work. It was her idea, but Grandma vetoes several of her suggestions, and Hazel starts feeling as though KC and Jonah are taking over. To make matters worse, Spot isn’t getting along with Muffin, another member of the club.
And there’s another little problem. Hazel and her mom are heading back to Chicago at the end of the summer. With their time together limited, Hazel begins to wonder whether it matters that the club isn’t turning out the way she imagined. What do you think she should do/
I have a question for you. Hve you ever had a wonderful idea, only to discover that getting everyone else on board is harder than you expected? I know I have! It’s hard to give up on something you believe in, even when things aren’t going according to plan. I can certainly understand Hazel’s frustration.
The back cover has a little section that caught my attention. Hazel talks about how her grandma likes the reports she’s been writing about the dogs and even says she’s good at that kind of writing. But Hazel also admits that she still feels out of sorts, as though there’s a hole inside her that she doesn’t understand.
Now, I’m not going to tell you what that hole is or how Hazel works through her feelings. You’ll have to read the book to find out! I think it’s an interesting detail because sometimes we can be doing something good, enjoying ourselves, and smiling on the outside while still struggling with something on the inside. Do you ever have days like that?
I know I do. This morning, I was feeling a little out of sorts myself, smiling on the outside even though I was struggling a bit on the inside. Sometimes a book comes along at just the right time, and you find yourself connecting with a character in ways you didn’t expect.
One of the things I enjoy about this book is getting to know all the different dogs. As a dog lover, how could I not enjoy a story filled with them? We meet King, a golden retriever. I love golden retrievers! Then there’s Ringo, a pug, and Sofia, a poodle who belongs to Angeli. Charlie wanted a poodle once. Did you know that?
Lulu is a corgi, which is David’s all-time favorite dog. Muffin is a Pomeranian-poodle mix, and Spot, Hazel’s Dalmatian, is at the center of the Old Dogs’ Club. Dalmatian dogs have a special connection to our family, too. They were favorites of my mom and David Michael when he was growing up.
We also meet Stella, a Springer setter mix, Zeus, a black Lab, and Play, a cocker spaniel who belongs to Casey and Jonah. Zeus reminds me of Angel, our black Lab who has passed away. And Play makes me think of Fred, David’s mother’s dog. Fred has passed away, too, and he’s still missed.
You see, that’s one of the things about reading a book with animals in it. Even when the characters are fictional, they can bring back memories of the pets we’ve loved and the moments we’ve shared with them. They just need a Rat Terrier like Pheobie, a Doberman Pincher like Sandy and a Chi-Weenie like Bear. I wonder if they would have room for my dogs then I might be able to get some work done.
I wish I could take all our dogs to a place like Dog Days! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a special club where older dogs could enjoy themselves without having to keep up with the younger, more energetic pups? I know Pheobie and Bear would like that and so would Charlie and I because out dogs would be taken care of.
When we get to the first chapter, we learn more about Hazel’s dog, Spot. Spot is a Dalmatian, and he’s twelve years old. Can you imagine having a dog who’s twelve? Of course, as dogs get older, they don’t necessarily want to slow down just because their bodies tell them it’s time! Spot still likes to run and play with the other dogs, but he has arthritis.
Well, Spot, you and I have something in common! I have arthritis, too, so I understand what it’s like when your body doesn’t always cooperate with what you want to do. And then there’s the medicine situation. Spot isn’t very good at taking his medicine. Neither am I! That’s two things we have in common, Spot. Laughing out loud!
I love little moments like this in a story because they give readers something to recognize and laugh about. Even though Spot is a dog, his struggles with getting older are easy to understand, especially for readers who have older pets or know someone dealing with arthritis.
The story also gives children an opportunity to think about the needs of senior animals. Older dogs may still want to play, explore, and spend time with friends, even if they need a little extra help along the way. And isn’t that something worth remembering? Our pets give us so much love throughout their lives. They deserve patience, understanding, and plenty of affection as they grow older.
The Old Dogs’ Club is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection from Peachtree Publishers in Atlanta. The hardcover book is small enough to fit inside a backpack, which I like, and it fits comfortably in my hand. That makes it a handy choice for taking along when you’re traveling, waiting for an appointment, or looking for something to read together.
There are ten chapters, with titles including Newsworthy, Grandma’s Ideal, Out of Sorts, Smiling on the Outside, Eruption, and Truth. Even some of those chapter titles make you curious about what’s going to happen next! I especially noticed Out of Sorts because that’s how I was feeling this morning. And Smiling on the Outside caught my attention, too, because sometimes that’s exactly what we do when we’re trying to work through something.
I also love the illustrations by Genevieve Kote. They add so much to the story, and I think they’ll help young readers stay interested as they move through the chapters. Pictures can make a story feel even more alive, especially when the characters include a whole collection of dogs with different personalities.
I haven’t finished reading the entire book yet, so I’m looking forward to discovering what happens next. The combination of the story, the characters, and the illustrations has me wanting to keep turning the pages. And, honestly, I wish there were more than two books in this series! I could happily keep reading about Hazel, her friends, and all those dogs.
As many of you know, I enjoy finding books that encourage children to make reading part of their everyday lives. That’s why these books caught my attention as possible additions to our ten-minute reading challenge. I hop you take the time to check these books out and to share them with your friends and family.
In our challenge ten minutes might not sound like a lot, but it’s a manageable way to encourage children to sit down with a book, explore a story, and build a reading habit. A story featuring dogs, friendships, and a club created to help older pets seems like a fun way to get young readers interested.
I also want to check out more books by Dori Hillestad Butler for my nieces and nephews and my grandson. These two Dog Days books are going to be Christmas gifts for them this year because I think they’re a good fit for our reading challenge. They will also be in our Christmas Gift Guide/ Wish List.
And here’s the thing: although these books are written for younger readers, I can see adults enjoying them, too. If you love dogs, remember the pets you’ve had over the years, or enjoy a story about kids trying to make a good idea work, there’s something here to appreciate.
Now you may be wondering if I would I Add It to My Christmas Gift Guide Wish List? Absolutely! The Old Dogs’ Club will be included in our Christmas Gift Guide Wish List. If you’re shopping for a young reader who loves animals, this is a book worth considering. It brings together dogs, friendship, problem-solving, and the challenges that come with trying to turn an idea into something real.
It also reminds us that older dogs still have plenty to offer. They may need a little more patience or a different kind of activity, but that doesn’t mean they’re finished enjoying life. I’m looking forward to finishing the story and finding out how Hazel handles the challenges facing her club. Will the kids find a way to work together? Will Spot and Muffin get along? And will Hazel discover that sometimes a good idea needs a little adjusting before it can succeed?
You’ll have to read the book to find out! For now, I’m glad I had the chance to discover this series. I’m adding The Old Dogs’ Club to my Christmas gift ideas, and I hope Santa brings plenty of books to children this year. Because whether you’re a young reader, a teacher, a dog lover, or an adult who simply enjoys a good children’s story, I think this book deserves a place on your reading list. And who knows? Maybe if we ask Santa nicely enough, he’ll put that bug in Dori Hillestad Butler’s ear and we’ll eventually get another Dog Days book!
About the book:
Hazel’s exciting new plan for the Old Dogs’ Club might be in trouble before it even starts. Can she find a way to get everyone to agree?
Hazel had a great idea: the Old Dogs’ Club, a program for seniors (like Hazel’s own dog, Spot) who are still up for some social interaction, mental stimulation, and exercise but can’t handle the intensity of the full day care environment. She, KC, and Jonah have convinced their mothers and Hazel’s grandma to let them try it out for the summer at Dog Days, the family doggy day care.
Everyone is very excited, but as they start to plan, Hazel realizes they all have very different opinions about how to run the club. It was her idea, but Grandma vetoes a number of her suggestions, and it is starting to feel like KC and Jonah are taking over. Plus, Spot isn’t getting along with Muffin, another club member.
Mom and Hazel are heading back to Chicago at the end of the summer, so maybe it doesn’t matter that the Old Dogs’ Club isn’t turning out to be what Hazel expected. But it’s hard to give up on a great idea, even when things get tough.
Book Details
Title: The Old Dogs’ Club
Series: Dog Days
Author: Dori Hillestad Butler
Illustrator: Genevieve Kote
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Peachtree
Recognition: Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Meet the Author: Dori Hillestad Butler has wanted to be an author for as long as she can remember. She wrote her first novel in sixth grade, partly to see if she could write a novel and partly to earn extra credit in English class. Her dream of becoming a published author came true in 1997 with the publication of The Great Tooth Fairy Rip-Off. Since then, she has published more than 35 additional books for children.
Her books have appeared on children’s choice award lists in 18 states. Trading Places with Tank Talbott won the Maryland Children’s Choice Award in 2007, and The Buddy Files: Case of the Lost Boy won the 2011 Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery. Dori has also worked as a ghostwriter for the Sweet Valley Twins, Unicorn Club, and Boxcar Children series.
Her other work includes short stories, plays, educational materials, and children’s book reviews. She has also served as the Iowa Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators’ Regional Advisor. She grew up in southern Minnesota and now lives in Coralville, Iowa, with her husband, son, dog, and cat.
She visits schools and leads writing workshops around the country. You can learn more about her and her books at Dori Hillestad Butler’s website.
Disclosure: This review is based on a book received for review. Any applicable Amazon affiliate links in this post may earn me a commission if you make a qualifying purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Thank you for joining me as I discover another book to share with our family, our readers, and the young people we’re encouraging to read for at least ten minutes a day. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a story about an old Dalmatian to finish reading!
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
