Book-A-Day Almanac

September has been designated World Animal Remembrance Month. So since I like to think about dogs, I’m going to feature some famous dog protagonists who deserve to be remembered: Spot, Art Dog, the unnamed heroes of Go, Dog. Go! and Steven Kellogg’s irrepressible Pinkerton. Possibly September should just be designated Steven Kellogg appreciation month. Steven has given so much to the field of children’s books—both in the great picture books he has created and the hours he has spent talking to children. There was a time in his life when he traveled forty weeks out of the year to visit classrooms and libraries.

Now, as Almanac readers know, over the past two years I have been engaged in training my Bernese Mountain dog Lancelot. Actually as I write, Lance has been banished to the outdoors because he believes the computer to be a rival for his affection. Like many pups in training, he has developed selective hearing, showing a bizarre mixture and obedience and chaos. I should have been reading Pinkerton, Behave! every day just to console myself.

In a story inspired by Steven’s own Great Dane named Pinkerton, the book focuses on the dog’s training, because like every puppy he needs to learn how to behave. At first the patient family tries to train Pinkerton at home, but he quickly develops some peculiar habits. “Come” sends him jumping out the window, and “fetch” causes him to eat the newspaper. So like dog owners the world over, the family calls in some professional help and sends Pinkerton to dog school. Unfortunately, Pinkerton affects the dog school much as my Lancelot did—he still doesn’t get commands but causes the other dogs to disobey. Pinkerton proves to be particularly clueless on the “Get the burglar!” command and acts as if he has just met his new best friend. But, of course, even misbehaving Great Danes have a role to play. When a real burglar arrives in the house, Pinkerton saves the day! As a proud owner says in the end, “I love you, Pinkerton.”

In this book as in all of his work, Steven combines a totally satisfying story with drawings filled with energy and exuberance. In fact, Steven Kellogg has never stopped having fun making picture books that are child-friendly and filled with humor. So if you know anyone who needs to laugh a bit about an ill-behaved puppy, get them a copy of Pinkerton, Behave! I am going to read it to Lance today; maybe he will pick up some new commands. I remain optimistic—if Pinkerton can be trained, Lance will not be far behind.

Here’s a page from Pinkerton, Behave!: