Gene Zion introduced Harry the Dirty Dog in 1956. This classic picture book follows the eventful day of a family dog. Harry, as the reader learns immediately, loathes bathing. Upon hearing the bathtub one morning, Harry buries his bathing brush in the front yard and takes off into the town. Throughout the next several pages, our small and white with black spotted main character plays all over town. Harry becomes very dirty as he plays and eventually returns home, in order to prevent his family from worrying over his whereabouts. Once Harry returns, however, he has become black with white spots and his family does not recognize him. Harry performs tricks to affirm his identity, but the family is unable to recognize this dirty dog. Harry eventually realizes that he must face his greatest fear, and take a bath. He retrieves his hidden brush and runs to the bathtub, at which time the family feels sympathetic enough to give the poor dog a bath...
"'It's Harry! It's Harry! It's Harry!' they cried." Harry the Dirty Dog, although written over 50 years ago, contains a story that fills the hearts of every child that has a dog or pet in their life. While leash laws and the concern of a family with a wandering dog are certainly outdated, the core of this text is a timeless appreciation for a family's best friend. The underlying theme, however, is that cleanliness is next to dogliness.
Readers may be able to recall an early relationship they formed with bathing. The intended audience of this book, K-2, may identify with the small dog. Dancing, running, and laughing often accompany being outside and returning home covered in mud. Harry was unidentifiable upon returning. I can see a continued parallel between our main character and the young readers. Zion is calling his readers to giggle and play, but even dirty dogs need a bath.
The language of this book, I feel, is completely appropriate for an exciting read aloud on a rainy day much like today. Imaginative, silly, and adventurous; Harry the Dirty Dog is a must for your classroom library.
This book looks fantastic and I will definitely look into it! Having a dog when I was younger I remember how important she was to me. I also have seen how important pets are in the third grade class I am observing and think that this book would probably be a popular one. I think families create a special bond with their pets and I can imagine the family being distraught and worried when they couldn't find Harry and then so relieved when he took a bath and revealed himself. Owning a pet is a significant memory in children's lives and this book seems like a cute story that would be loved by elementary students especially if most can relate to it.
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