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Good Dog, Carl #1
Good Dog, Carl
Available in paperback for the first time, the modern classic that introduced the beloved baby-sitting rottweiler to the world.
36 pages, Board Book
First published September 1, 1985
33 people are currently reading
2612 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Day
73 books93 followersAlexandra Day, the beloved creator of Good Dog, Carl, is the literary persona of Sandra Louise Woodward Darling—an artist and storyteller devoted to the deep, joyful connection between children and animals. The beloved children's book author, Alexandra Day, is the literary persona of Sandra Louise Woodward Darling, an artist and storyteller passionate about connecting children and animals.
Born in 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Alexandra Day emerged from a creative family where painting was a cherished pastime. Four formative years on a hundred-acre Kentucky farm nurtured her deep connection to animals and literature, fostering the seeds of her future artistic vision.
Day and her husband, Harold Darling, founded Green Tiger Press in 1970, marking the beginning of their publishing adventure. Her breakthrough came in 1985 with Good Dog, Carl, a book inspired by an antique German illustration she discovered in a Zurich bookshop. The story was based on her own Rottweiler, Toby, and featured her granddaughter, Madeleine, as the baby.
Over the past four next three decades, Day has published twenty-four Carl books, selling more than six million copies. The series, featuresing a gentle Rottweiler caring for a baby and their adventures, is a beloved staple of children's literature. Beyond Carl, she also created the Frank and Ernest series, The Teddy Bear’s Picnic, and many other books.
After selling Green Tiger Press in 1986, Day and Harold started Blue Lantern Publishing. In 1993, they moved to Seattle and founded Laughing Elephant Publishing. Following Harold's passing in 2016, Day continues to run the company with her family.
When not painting Carl or working at her publishing company, Day can be found spending time with her grandchildren and tending her garden. Alexandra Day often visits libraries and schools with her dogs, promoting reading and the benefits of therapy animals. Her life's work celebrates the magical bond between children, animals, and storytelling.
Born in 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Alexandra Day emerged from a creative family where painting was a cherished pastime. Four formative years on a hundred-acre Kentucky farm nurtured her deep connection to animals and literature, fostering the seeds of her future artistic vision.
Day and her husband, Harold Darling, founded Green Tiger Press in 1970, marking the beginning of their publishing adventure. Her breakthrough came in 1985 with Good Dog, Carl, a book inspired by an antique German illustration she discovered in a Zurich bookshop. The story was based on her own Rottweiler, Toby, and featured her granddaughter, Madeleine, as the baby.
Over the past four next three decades, Day has published twenty-four Carl books, selling more than six million copies. The series, featuresing a gentle Rottweiler caring for a baby and their adventures, is a beloved staple of children's literature. Beyond Carl, she also created the Frank and Ernest series, The Teddy Bear’s Picnic, and many other books.
After selling Green Tiger Press in 1986, Day and Harold started Blue Lantern Publishing. In 1993, they moved to Seattle and founded Laughing Elephant Publishing. Following Harold's passing in 2016, Day continues to run the company with her family.
When not painting Carl or working at her publishing company, Day can be found spending time with her grandchildren and tending her garden. Alexandra Day often visits libraries and schools with her dogs, promoting reading and the benefits of therapy animals. Her life's work celebrates the magical bond between children, animals, and storytelling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 512 reviews
March 21, 2022
This is my daughters all time favorite book ever! We own every book in the Carl collection and they are the BEST!!! They are all so adorable but Good Dog, Carl is our favorite! Carl is the best babysitter ever!! Our family got a Rottweiler almost 2 years ago and of course we had to name him Carl! My daughter and Carl are best friends. 😊😊 I love this book because it doesn’t have many words so your child gets to “read” and interpret the book by looking at the pictures. Buy this book for your kids and grandkids, they will love it!!
January 18, 2026
Top Five Dogs In Literature
5. Bendico from The Leopard
4. Buck from Call of the Wild
3. Karenin from The Unbearable Lightness of Being
2. Carl
1. Laska from Anna Karenina
Top Five Dogs In General
5. Big idiot golden retrievers who are constantly knocking things over with their tails
4. Old dogs who come over and collapse on your feet so you have to pet them
3. Rottweilers
2. Pit bulls
1. Rescue mutts
5. Bendico from The Leopard
4. Buck from Call of the Wild
3. Karenin from The Unbearable Lightness of Being
2. Carl
1. Laska from Anna Karenina
Top Five Dogs In General
5. Big idiot golden retrievers who are constantly knocking things over with their tails
4. Old dogs who come over and collapse on your feet so you have to pet them
3. Rottweilers
2. Pit bulls
1. Rescue mutts
July 10, 2023
Now after simply adoring many of the later instalments in Alexandra Day's Carl the Rottweiler series, I have to admit that I was and still remain more than a bit underwhelmed by the first book of the series, by Good Dog, Carl. I do think that in general, God Dog, Carl is a sweet (albeit for some parents, perhaps also a touch unnerving) story, full of fun, whimsy and mischief. However, neither Alexandra Day's narrative nor her accompanying illustrations have managed to completely charm me like I have been "wowed" by for example Carl's Summer Vacation) and Carl's Snowy Afternoon. For the illustrations in both of these later Carl books are truly magical, wonderfully bold and really truly do capture the cuteness, fun and typical characteristics of a family Rottweiler, whereas the illustrations in Good Dog, Carl seem (at least to and for me) a bit bland and washed-out in comparison. They are well-executed, and both humorous and sweet, but lack the whimsy and colourful expressiveness displayed in the artwork of many of the later Carl the Rottweiler books.
And yes, I also do tend to find the stories (the plot lines) in the later books a bit more appealing and interesting (realistic) as stories in and of themselves. Now that is not to say that I did not truly enjoy "reading" about Carl and Madeleine's escapades in Good Dog, Carl. I have no moral or philosophical problems with the fact that the mother lets the family Rottweiler babysit Madeleine, and it always amazes me that there are actually unenlightened, moronic individuals who not only vehemently despise Good Dog, Carl, but actually seem think that it is somehow dangerous and should in fact be censored and even removed from library shelves (for example, one obviously brainless patron at our local library recently left a comment requesting that this supposedly dangerous book be removed). Honestly, Good Dog, Carl is a fantastical and fun children's picture book, and if any parents think or believe that leaving a baby alone in the care of a dog is correct parenting (and would even remotely consider imitating this), they have major pre-existing mental health issues that have not been caused by the book, that are not the fault of Good Dog, Carl.
However, I guess it is also to a certain extent the fantastical elements in Good Dog, Carl that have made me enjoy it rather less than some of the later Carl the Rottweiler books I have read and adored. Many of Carl's and Madeleine's escapades in Carl's Summer Vacation, Carl's Snowy Afternoon and even Carl's Birthday are quite close to reality; they portray actions, interactions, games etc. that children and Rottweilers (or dogs in general) do engage in and often engage in together (sliding down a slide, fetching a baseball, the dog pulling a sled). And one of the reasons I love these above mentioned three books so much was/is because of the nostalgia, of seeing illustrations of a Rottweiler that could so easily have been the Rottweiler(s) my family owned when my siblings and I were younger. The story depicted in Good Dog, Carl, however, they did not create (and does not create) that same sense of nostalgia in me, as none of our Rottweilers would ever have let us swim in a fish tank, nor would they have known how to give us a bath and dry us with a hairdryer (and thankfully so).
But of course, I would still and definitely recommend this generally charming wordless (or rather, nearly wordless) picture book to and for anyone who likes dogs (and yes, both adults and children). But really, if you are going to be reading Good Dog, Carl, you should also take the time to read and enjoy some of the later Carl the Rottweiler instalments (as both the stories and the illustrations do much improve as series progresses).
And yes, I also do tend to find the stories (the plot lines) in the later books a bit more appealing and interesting (realistic) as stories in and of themselves. Now that is not to say that I did not truly enjoy "reading" about Carl and Madeleine's escapades in Good Dog, Carl. I have no moral or philosophical problems with the fact that the mother lets the family Rottweiler babysit Madeleine, and it always amazes me that there are actually unenlightened, moronic individuals who not only vehemently despise Good Dog, Carl, but actually seem think that it is somehow dangerous and should in fact be censored and even removed from library shelves (for example, one obviously brainless patron at our local library recently left a comment requesting that this supposedly dangerous book be removed). Honestly, Good Dog, Carl is a fantastical and fun children's picture book, and if any parents think or believe that leaving a baby alone in the care of a dog is correct parenting (and would even remotely consider imitating this), they have major pre-existing mental health issues that have not been caused by the book, that are not the fault of Good Dog, Carl.
However, I guess it is also to a certain extent the fantastical elements in Good Dog, Carl that have made me enjoy it rather less than some of the later Carl the Rottweiler books I have read and adored. Many of Carl's and Madeleine's escapades in Carl's Summer Vacation, Carl's Snowy Afternoon and even Carl's Birthday are quite close to reality; they portray actions, interactions, games etc. that children and Rottweilers (or dogs in general) do engage in and often engage in together (sliding down a slide, fetching a baseball, the dog pulling a sled). And one of the reasons I love these above mentioned three books so much was/is because of the nostalgia, of seeing illustrations of a Rottweiler that could so easily have been the Rottweiler(s) my family owned when my siblings and I were younger. The story depicted in Good Dog, Carl, however, they did not create (and does not create) that same sense of nostalgia in me, as none of our Rottweilers would ever have let us swim in a fish tank, nor would they have known how to give us a bath and dry us with a hairdryer (and thankfully so).
But of course, I would still and definitely recommend this generally charming wordless (or rather, nearly wordless) picture book to and for anyone who likes dogs (and yes, both adults and children). But really, if you are going to be reading Good Dog, Carl, you should also take the time to read and enjoy some of the later Carl the Rottweiler instalments (as both the stories and the illustrations do much improve as series progresses).
December 25, 2017
This is Kaiser, my fur-nephew. He sleeps at the edge of my niece's play mat and runs to check on her when she cries.
I will always enjoy adorable picture books about very good dogs. And my niece enjoys drooling on them.
I will always enjoy adorable picture books about very good dogs. And my niece enjoys drooling on them.
March 14, 2020
Stunning drawings in this story about a dog named Carl that takes care of baby when his owner leaves for something. It was a soothing story and I really dig this story and it is quirkiness. Well deserved 4 points.
This book is in the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up challenge I am doing.
This book is in the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up challenge I am doing.
July 31, 2013
I hate to admit it, but I couldn't help but cringe as we read this book together. Leaving a dog alone with a baby? I know this is just a funny almost-wordless book and our girls were terrific at making up their own story as we looked at the humorous scenes, but I just couldn't shake the feeling of dread as the baby makes a mess and gets into dangerous situations. Funny, but in a warped way.
Still, the dog was adorable and I loved the retro feel of the book. We enjoyed reading this book together, even if I felt the need to discuss with our girls the utter wrongness of leaving a baby alone in a house with a dog. We've also read Carl's Snowy Afternoon, and I thought that one was a bit more charming.
This book was selected as one of the books for the July 2013 - Cats and Dogs discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
Still, the dog was adorable and I loved the retro feel of the book. We enjoyed reading this book together, even if I felt the need to discuss with our girls the utter wrongness of leaving a baby alone in a house with a dog. We've also read Carl's Snowy Afternoon, and I thought that one was a bit more charming.
This book was selected as one of the books for the July 2013 - Cats and Dogs discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
August 12, 2008
Okay, DO NOT go thinking that all dogs that look like Carl are safe, because Carl, the dog in this book, is a Rottweiler, albeit a very well trained one.
Do NOT leave your baby alone in the care of your pet dog. Even a well-trained one. And especially not in the care of some random Rottweiler. Rottweilers are a very powerful and potentially dangerous breed. Don't even go near a Rottweiler you don't know, let alone put your child in the care of one. This is a complete and utter fantasy. Got that? Okay.
As a fantasy, this is a charmer, with lovely pictures showing Carl and the baby enjoying a day at home, the baby riding Carl like a horse to get around the house, having a Carl prepared lunch, enjoying a swim in the fish tank, etc. It's funny and cute, and a good book to teach reading readiness because it is practically wordless.
Do NOT leave your baby alone in the care of your pet dog. Even a well-trained one. And especially not in the care of some random Rottweiler. Rottweilers are a very powerful and potentially dangerous breed. Don't even go near a Rottweiler you don't know, let alone put your child in the care of one. This is a complete and utter fantasy. Got that? Okay.
As a fantasy, this is a charmer, with lovely pictures showing Carl and the baby enjoying a day at home, the baby riding Carl like a horse to get around the house, having a Carl prepared lunch, enjoying a swim in the fish tank, etc. It's funny and cute, and a good book to teach reading readiness because it is practically wordless.
April 1, 2024
Read long ago. Loved it. Still looking for a copy to own from a thrift store.
November 16, 2020
The very capable and good dog Carl babysits the baby. They get into all kinds of adventures and Carl cleans up everything after them so the parents won't know.
Picturebook without text.
Picturebook without text.
November 25, 2020
'The Cat and the Hat' was the first book that was mine, not just a hand me down--a gift from Ms. Kimball, briefly my kindergarten teacher at North School in Des Plaines, Illinois. This book, one of a series, is formally very similar, illustrating beautifully the antics of a rottweiler assigned by Mother to watch her cribbed infant. As in the Seuss masterpiece, the two of them make chaos of the home, then tidy up just in time for Mother's return. The art is beautifully realistic, the humor perverse enough to amuse the adult reader, the sentiment--for dogs mostly--is profound.
September 10, 2020
Somebody needs to call CPS on the mother in this book. Not only is the illustrated child creepy looking, regardless of how good a dog Carl is, a dog is not a suitable babysitter
July 11, 2019
In this first of a series of wordless picture-book devoted to the adventures of a baby-sitting Rottweiler (don't try this at home, parents!), Mother instructs Carl to 'look after the baby," and goes out. Naturally, a dog and infant have better things to do than nap, so baby crawls out of its crib, and Carl oversees its messy (and rather chaotic) playtime, before shepherding his charge back to bed...
I found this little book charming, and am glad I finally gave this series, and its creator, a chance! Of course I've long been familiar with the Carl books, but it was only when I read some glowing reviews by a friend (thanks, Gundula!), that I finally tracked one down, and really looked at it. The artwork, done in egg tempera, is just lovely, Carl is a winsome characters, and the story is amusing. One hopes, of course, that no one is actually using a Rottweiler as a baby-sitter, but as a fun fantasy, this tale works!
I found this little book charming, and am glad I finally gave this series, and its creator, a chance! Of course I've long been familiar with the Carl books, but it was only when I read some glowing reviews by a friend (thanks, Gundula!), that I finally tracked one down, and really looked at it. The artwork, done in egg tempera, is just lovely, Carl is a winsome characters, and the story is amusing. One hopes, of course, that no one is actually using a Rottweiler as a baby-sitter, but as a fun fantasy, this tale works!
August 8, 2013
Wonderful story. I read this to Max every night, and he loves it.
My old dog, Shenga (aka, Bubie)looked just like Carl. Some guy ran up and went,
"oh, look! It's Carl!" I, of course, thought he'd lost his mind, not his dog. Then he explained the whole thing to me. And I went, "Oh, cool." And got the hell outta there as fast as possible.
Now that I've read the book -- it's a fast read -- I'm hooked.
Max rates it Five Barks!
Woof!
P.S. I found this book in the FREE bin at the library. Imagine that??
My old dog, Shenga (aka, Bubie)looked just like Carl. Some guy ran up and went,
"oh, look! It's Carl!" I, of course, thought he'd lost his mind, not his dog. Then he explained the whole thing to me. And I went, "Oh, cool." And got the hell outta there as fast as possible.
Now that I've read the book -- it's a fast read -- I'm hooked.
Max rates it Five Barks!
Woof!
P.S. I found this book in the FREE bin at the library. Imagine that??
November 12, 2012
I usually don't like books without words but this one is definitely an exception. I really loved it! The pictures are very beautiful and you can "read" the book without having to think what the story is.
And now I finally know what Nana from Peter Pan is doing all day!
And now I finally know what Nana from Peter Pan is doing all day!
April 27, 2017
It's hard to tell a story without words. Day manages quite well. Adults will be charmed as will older preschoolers. Actual babies will have trouble with the detailed paintings and figuring out the story.
July 18, 2022
In inner social worker is screaming. Not cute, not funny and definitely not good.
February 9, 2021
“Good dog, Carl” is a very sweet book, as it tells the story about a dog and a young child. I feel a personal connection to this story, as I have gotten into things with my dogs that I probably shouldn’t have done! Carl’s owner goes to the store, leaving Carl to watch the child. This is the one issue I had with the story, as it is not a safe idea to leave a young child with a dog as a babysitter. Besides this, every other aspect of the story was well developed and heartfelt. This picture book did not need words to tell the story. The illustrations showed emotions and movements Carl and the child did, and the events flowed throughout the story well. Overall, I enjoyed the story as it had a plot that kept my attention and I was about to create a personal connection to the story.
September 23, 2023
Lovely,detailed art ! The pictures tell the story better than words .
June 10, 2023
The only time that a dog should be trusted as a reliable babysitter.
April 7, 2017
What a lovely, humorous little picturebook. Consisting of a whopping twelve words which open and close the story with mum's departure and arrival, this is a lovely little story of an unspoken friendship between a baby and Carl, the family dog.
What I particularly loved about the book is the notion of a Rottweiler being so gentle and caring with the baby but also the suspension of disbelief and humour that comes with the adventures between the baby and his guardian. I imagine younger children will delight in the escapades of both of them and, perhaps more importantly, enjoy putting words to the pages.
What I particularly loved about the book is the notion of a Rottweiler being so gentle and caring with the baby but also the suspension of disbelief and humour that comes with the adventures between the baby and his guardian. I imagine younger children will delight in the escapades of both of them and, perhaps more importantly, enjoy putting words to the pages.
May 14, 2022
“Look after the baby, Carl. I’ll be back shortly.” These were the mother’s famous last words before the police came knocking at the door to arrest her for child endangerment and animal abuse. Sadly, this mostly wordless story reads like it was ripped from the headlines (“Baby found dead in aquarium, dog slobber trail leads to prime suspect”). Highly detailed illustrations do even more damage by blurring the distinction between fantasy and reality.
September 20, 2010
My three-year-old son loved the pictures of the dog and baby having fun together. As a mother, I found the pictures of the baby going down the laundry chute and swimming in the fish tank slightly disturbing (although still amusing), but my son loved it all.
Update: my one-year-old baby loves it too. It's a keeper!
Update: my one-year-old baby loves it too. It's a keeper!
March 30, 2011
I read this to kids ages two through nine, and they all LOVED it. We laughed and laughed at the adventures Carl and the baby have together, and talked about how moms shouldn't really leave their babies with dogs, etc. The pictures are lovely and capture the tone perfectly, without resorting to cutesy. Although Carl on the cover is the cutest picture ever!
June 22, 2022
"Look after the baby, Carl. I'll be back shortly."
These sound like the opening words of a horror film, and they truly could be, here. While Mother is away, the baby has many questionable adventures, including going down the laundry chute and swimming in a fish tank. I can see why children would find this fascinating, as my sister and I once did, but I also sympathize with my mother's utter horror over this series.
The illustrations are nice, and the dog is expressive without seeming at all andromorphic. The primarily wordless element also works well for this series, adding to the intrigue of the strange adventures and fitting with the dog as a main character. This book and the others which follow it are certainly memorable, but I can't say that I like it. It's mainly watching a train wreck while feeling assured of the catharsis of a happy ending.
These sound like the opening words of a horror film, and they truly could be, here. While Mother is away, the baby has many questionable adventures, including going down the laundry chute and swimming in a fish tank. I can see why children would find this fascinating, as my sister and I once did, but I also sympathize with my mother's utter horror over this series.
The illustrations are nice, and the dog is expressive without seeming at all andromorphic. The primarily wordless element also works well for this series, adding to the intrigue of the strange adventures and fitting with the dog as a main character. This book and the others which follow it are certainly memorable, but I can't say that I like it. It's mainly watching a train wreck while feeling assured of the catharsis of a happy ending.
April 13, 2017
The entire carl the dog series is wonderful. Told with minimal language, most stories are set around Carl the Rottweiler taking care of a little girl named Madeleine. Sometimes there are more kids but mostly just her. These are great books, if as a parent, you can get past the fact that the parent goes off for a long stretch of time, expecting the dog to watch over the child. Certainly, these stories are set in a different age. They are wonderfully illustrated and kids just love these stories and the dog that e dry one wishes they had.
August 20, 2021
24/1001 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up
First thing why has the mother left her child to be looked after by the dog."Look after the baby, Carl. I'll be back shortly."
First thing why has the mother left her child to be looked after by the dog."Look after the baby, Carl. I'll be back shortly."
October 11, 2020
This is my kids' favorite wordless book. We have so much fun "reading" it together! As much as we question the mother's decision to leave the baby in Carl's care, he proves that he is indeed a Good Dog.
July 31, 2017
Beautiful art work and some fun little scenes in this picture book with very few words. Really makes you make up your own story. Although I will never leave my baby alone with our dogs.
August 21, 2020
I just want a dog as gentle and ingenius and good at cleaning things as Carl
December 13, 2021
This book is truly magical. The words are never the same.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 512 reviews