From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6-Jack, a big yellow dog, has fallen head over paws in love with pretty Petra; when her owner finds out, she comments, "But Jack is just a Labrador and Petra is a Samoyed." Then the plot takes a different path with Petra soon becoming pregnant. A subplot involves the environmental conservation of the forest area surrounding the mill where Petra has her puppies as a new highway is soon to be built over it. Jack's overemphasized stupidity in some scenes is inconsistent with his apparent intelligence in others. On the other hand, in scenes in which his real emotions come through, his character rings true. Some readers might find the scene in which Jack chases and kills a cottontail, licks its blood off his teeth, and says, "Yum," and later "licks the inside of the bunny's skin" a bit over the top. In addition, several of the dog-language words he uses are unclear; having to refer often to the glossary slows the story. However, Finney does a good job of weaving realistically believable canine behavior and slapstick humor throughout. Jack's sincere attempts to make sense of what people are telling him are particularly funny, and the ending is upbeat. Small black-and-white drawings break up the text on many of the pages.James K. Irwin, Nichols Library, Naperville, ILCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 3-6. Meet Jack. Hi, hi. Pant, pant. Wag, wag. May I smell. . . . Oh, sorry. Jack is a yellow Labrador retriever. He tells us"apedogs" (excuse me, that's what he calls humans) his story in hisown words. Well, the three cats sharing his den (house) help by addingacid commentary in footnotes. A good thing, too, since Jack is verythick and sometimes gets things wrong. But he is sweet. Very, verysweet. He loves Petra, the girl dog next door. They have puppies, andthings get complicated. Jack and Petra run away. Jack's pack leader(owner) tries to find them. He has an accident, and Jack gets to be ahero. Oh, wow. Happy dog. Happy readers. Good, funny book. ShowBritish author Finney much respect. Tummy rubs all around.Michael Cart
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

ALA Booklist
"Happy dog. Happy readers. Good, funny book."

School Library Journal
"Finney does a good job of weaving believable canine behavior and slapstick humor throughout."

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)
"The narrative is perfectly pitched [and] Jack’s world remains earthily, comically doggy."

Book Description

Hi! Hi there!I am Jack! Big dog Jack. WAG TAIL. I live with a big Pack. This is my Packleader. I love him HUGE amounts! More than steak, even. YUMYUM. My Packleader has a Pack Lady and three children. I love them BIG amounts, too. And this is Petra; she lives next door. Isn't she Gorgeous? This is my story. It's SO EXCITING! Find out how I become friends with Petra, brave the FIERCE garage dog, and save Packleader from Huge Scary Metal Monsters. ARROOOF ARROOOF!

About the Author
Patricia Finney is Jack's real Pack Lady and his interpreter. She spends a lot of time running around after Jack, The Cats, and her three children. When she can, she writes all kinds of things, including historical novels, scripts, and articles for newspapers. She won the David Higham Award for her first novel, A Shadow of Gulls. Ms. Finney lives in Plymouth, England.

ANNOTATION

In this delightfully funny and accessible novel, a yellow labrador relates the story of his courageous deeds in entertaining canine language, highlighted by lively black-and-white illustrations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Hi! Hi there! I am Jack! Big dog Jack. Wag Tail. I live with a big Pack. This is my Packleader. I love him Huge Amounts! More than steak, even. Yumyum. My Packleader has a Pack Lady and three children. I love them Big Amounts, too. And this is Petra; she lives next door. Isn't she Gorgeous? This is my story. It's So Exciting! Find out how I become friends with Petra, brave the Fierce garage dog, and save Packleader from Huge Scary Metal Monsters. Arrooof Arrooof!

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

The cover photo of a yellow Lab (wearing drawn-on eyeglasses) and the author credit "By Jack, the dog, as told to Patricia Finney," tip readers off to the narrative voice in this labored British import. Jack's rather cloying exuberance is evident from his opening words: "Hi! hi there! Hello! hi, friend!! I am Jack! Look at me! Here I am. I like you. Do you like me? I am Jack. Big Dog Jack!! Hi! Can I smell your...? Oh. Sorry." He then introduces his "Pack," the English family he lives with, consisting of Packleader (the "biggest standing-up apedog"), his wife, Pack Lady, and three "apedog puppies." Some readers will be more tolerant than others of the cutesy "Jackspeak," some of which is translated in a concluding glossary ("talkbone" is the telephone, "Flying Featheries" are birds). Though Jack's interpretations of family matters occasionally hit a humorous note, his monologue can be tedious and repetitious, as he fixates on Petra, the pooch next door, yips about feeling hungry and garners criticism or praise from his owners. Only midway through is there any appreciable action, as Jack helps Petra find a place to deliver her "Special Message" (puppies); at the tail end, he struggles to obey instructions to "make like Lassie" and fetch help when his Packleader falls through rotting stairs and breaks his leg. Footnotes relaying quips from the supercilious family felines add little to this sluggish canine caper. Ages 8-12. (Feb.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Judy Crowder

Yip, yip, AROOOF! For any dog lover who has wondered what thoughts are going through that canine brain, this is the book for you. How could a true dog fan not be charmed by the very first page: "I am JACK. BIG DOG JACK! Hi! Can I smell your...? Oh. Sorry." Jack is a golden Labrador retriever, with a big pack of two legged apedogs (humans) led by pack leader, Tom Stopes, who has lots of fur on his chin but not much on his head. Jack loves all in his pack, about as much as he adores his food dish and "walkies." When two new apedogs move into the den next door, Jack meets the love of his life, Petra, a pedigreed Samoyed, and the adventures begin. Happy dog! Petra and Jack "marry," with the help of ape puppies (children) in Jack's pack, have puppies (real ones), and get involved in the saving a nearby ancient stone mill encrusted with rare lichens, as well as rescuing Tom from a bulldozer. Finney was inspired by Rudyard Kipling's book, Thy Servant, a Dog, and consulted books on dog psychology by Bruce Fogle in order to capture doggy behavior, and she has done a superlative job of it. Added to Jack's voice is that of three "normal-walking-with-fur-and-tail-type dogs, but small with hidden-claws"—cats, who add their own hilarious footnotes and call Jack "Big Stupid." Once readers get used to Jack's attention deficit-type narrative, beautifully written by Finney, and combine the story with Bailey's charming line drawings plus a glossary of "Jackspeak English," they're bound to fall in love with this book. 2000, HarperCollins Publishers, Ages 8 to 12.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-Jack, a big yellow dog, has fallen head over paws in love with pretty Petra; when her owner finds out, she comments, "But Jack is just a Labrador and Petra is a Samoyed." Then the plot takes a different path with Petra soon becoming pregnant. A subplot involves the environmental conservation of the forest area surrounding the mill where Petra has her puppies as a new highway is soon to be built over it. Jack's overemphasized stupidity in some scenes is inconsistent with his apparent intelligence in others. On the other hand, in scenes in which his real emotions come through, his character rings true. Some readers might find the scene in which Jack chases and kills a cottontail, licks its blood off his teeth, and says, "Yum," and later "licks the inside of the bunny's skin" a bit over the top. In addition, several of the dog-language words he uses are unclear; having to refer often to the glossary slows the story. However, Finney does a good job of weaving realistically believable canine behavior and slapstick humor throughout. Jack's sincere attempts to make sense of what people are telling him are particularly funny, and the ending is upbeat. Small black-and-white drawings break up the text on many of the pages.-James K. Irwin, Nichols Library, Naperville, IL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews