My Dog Is as Smelly as Dirty Socks and Other Funny Family Portraits

• Home
• My Books

Open Preview

See a Problem?

We'd love your help. Let us know what's wrong with this preview of My Dog Is as Smelly as Dirty Socks by Hanoch Piven.

Thanks for telling us about the problem.

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

Be the first to ask a question about My Dog Is as Smelly as Dirty Socks

Community Reviews

 · 474 ratings  · 100 reviews

Start your review of My Dog Is as Smelly as Dirty Socks: And Other Funny Family Portraits

Oct 05, 2009 (NS) Lauren rated it it was amazing

Grade Level: K-5

I loved this book for its celebration of creativity and imagination! The story is told from the perspective of a little girl who is not quite satified with the simple family portrait she has drawn for her teacher with a pen on a piece of plain notebook paper. Her original drawing fails to capture her family members' true personalities, and so she sets about describing each of them through common household objects that she glues on top of watercolor bodies to create a new set of p

Grade Level: K-5

I loved this book for its celebration of creativity and imagination! The story is told from the perspective of a little girl who is not quite satified with the simple family portrait she has drawn for her teacher with a pen on a piece of plain notebook paper. Her original drawing fails to capture her family members' true personalities, and so she sets about describing each of them through common household objects that she glues on top of watercolor bodies to create a new set of portraits. For example, she incorportates a knotted rope as her dad's mouth because "sometimes he's as stubborn as a knot in a rope," and springs for eyebrows because "My daddy is as jumpy as a spring".

This book could be used in many different ways in the classroom. There are countless examples of similes throughout the text that could be used as examples during a poetry unit. The book could also be read by first taking a "picture walk" through the illustrations. Students could share ideas about what the objects incorporated into each portrait might tell us about each family member. Predictions could be confirmed with a second read-through, including the text. This would also be a great "back-to-school" activity for building classroom community. Students could create their own self-portraits using common objects, and then write a series of "simile clues" following the format of the book to share with their classmates.

...more

Jun 08, 2011 Mark rated it liked it

When it comes to really nailing the essence of a loved one, argues the girl who narrates Piven's latest collage confection, the truly committed artist must eschew paper and pencil and turn instead to the found object. Thus, the full stinky-ness of Schmutz, the girl's dog, comes alive in an assemblage that includes real socks for ears, garlic for eyes, an onion for the tail and pepperoni for a nose. "Yucky-Boo!" announces the girl as the dachshund-like doggie is revealed, "I warned you."

The girl

When it comes to really nailing the essence of a loved one, argues the girl who narrates Piven's latest collage confection, the truly committed artist must eschew paper and pencil and turn instead to the found object. Thus, the full stinky-ness of Schmutz, the girl's dog, comes alive in an assemblage that includes real socks for ears, garlic for eyes, an onion for the tail and pepperoni for a nose. "Yucky-Boo!" announces the girl as the dachshund-like doggie is revealed, "I warned you."

The girl's self-portrait is a veritable catalog of objects, from the obligatory crown to a magnifying glass (for curiosity). Some of the rationales for objects don't sound very kid-like — dad's mouth, the girl explains, was inspired by his tendency to be "as stubborn as a KNOT in a ROPE."

But Piven astutely captures the restless imagination and unsparing self-criticism that defines the budding artist; the girl dismisses her own drawing of her mother with a curt, "Sorry, but it doesn't tell the whole story."

This invitation for readers to create portraits of "your special family" — Piven even throws in a few suggestions for things that suggest qualities like 'smart' and 'funny' — is certain to get a prompt RSVP.

Preview above was taken from Publishers Weekly website

...more

Nov 17, 2013 Linda rated it really liked it

I had a recent conversation about the growth needed for young primary students to learn to use figurative language, that it was a big step for them to use comparisons that can be abstract. Here is a book that will be one answer, filled with descriptions of a young girl's family using simple objects that both create visual portraits and tell why! For example, the girl says her brother is as "strong as a baseball bat" and (in hide-and-seek) "as sneaky as a snake". Hanoch Piven then uses represent I had a recent conversation about the growth needed for young primary students to learn to use figurative language, that it was a big step for them to use comparisons that can be abstract. Here is a book that will be one answer, filled with descriptions of a young girl's family using simple objects that both create visual portraits and tell why! For example, the girl says her brother is as "strong as a baseball bat" and (in hide-and-seek) "as sneaky as a snake". Hanoch Piven then uses representations of these things to create the picture. It would be a useful book for many ages, but particularly primary students.
The collages are so clever. I imagine this artist has boxes of small, interesting objects to use in his work.
...more

A young girl draw a stick figure representation of her family. Then she realizes that this picture doesn't do a good job of really representing her family. She uses similes to describe her family members and then she make their drawing from using the objects she compares them to. For example, her baby brother is so loud. He's as loud as a whistle, a horn, and even a fire truck! She creates a picture of her baby brother using these objects (whistles for his eyes, a horn for his mouth, and he is h A young girl draw a stick figure representation of her family. Then she realizes that this picture doesn't do a good job of really representing her family. She uses similes to describe her family members and then she make their drawing from using the objects she compares them to. For example, her baby brother is so loud. He's as loud as a whistle, a horn, and even a fire truck! She creates a picture of her baby brother using these objects (whistles for his eyes, a horn for his mouth, and he is holding a fire truck). This book is great for teaching figurative language: similes. ...more

Apr 02, 2009 Rebecca rated it really liked it

Recommended to Rebecca by: Molly

What an unusual book! The narrator, a little girl, takes a drawn family portrait and expands it to present each member of her family "drawn" with objects that represent the way they are (as strong as a baseball bat, as loud as a whistle). Good for thinking about characteristics, symbols, similes, and what makes art. Pair with something like Look-Alikes and I Spy, then make your own for a really fun library program. What an unusual book! The narrator, a little girl, takes a drawn family portrait and expands it to present each member of her family "drawn" with objects that represent the way they are (as strong as a baseball bat, as loud as a whistle). Good for thinking about characteristics, symbols, similes, and what makes art. Pair with something like Look-Alikes and I Spy, then make your own for a really fun library program. ...more

May 23, 2013 Carol rated it really liked it

This book is so fun! It's about a little girl who has to make a portrait of her family for school. She is not impressed with her drawing because she doesn't feel it describes them well enough. She takes everyday objects and uses them to describe her family and herself. Very cute, I would love to use this at story time or as a family program and have the kids make their own portraits at the end with different objects. It would also be a great way to teach older kids about similes. This book is so fun! It's about a little girl who has to make a portrait of her family for school. She is not impressed with her drawing because she doesn't feel it describes them well enough. She takes everyday objects and uses them to describe her family and herself. Very cute, I would love to use this at story time or as a family program and have the kids make their own portraits at the end with different objects. It would also be a great way to teach older kids about similes. ...more

Jan 04, 2008 babyhippoface rated it really liked it

If you're teaching similes, you NEED this book. Collaborate with your art teacher and have kids bring objects from home to create portraits of themselves! If you're teaching similes, you NEED this book. Collaborate with your art teacher and have kids bring objects from home to create portraits of themselves! ...more

May 13, 2012 Heather rated it it was amazing

39 months - this is a funny book and O enjoyed it so much she wanted to make her own family portraits with found items. We will have to borrow this again and do a few activities.

Sep 26, 2012 Huda Fel rated it it was amazing

loved the idea of this book.
what materials will "make" your own family? loved the idea of this book.
what materials will "make" your own family? ...more

Oct 10, 2019 Megan rated it really liked it

-A brief summary of the book
This book is about a picture that the main character's sibling drew and the main character went through the book making changes with similes. The character described herself and all of her family including their family dog using similes.
-Your evaluation of the book supported by at least one reason
I enjoyed this book and liked the use of the similes throughout it. I really liked how the characters were described and shown within the book.
-One detailed and specific t -A brief summary of the book
This book is about a picture that the main character's sibling drew and the main character went through the book making changes with similes. The character described herself and all of her family including their family dog using similes.
-Your evaluation of the book supported by at least one reason
I enjoyed this book and liked the use of the similes throughout it. I really liked how the characters were described and shown within the book.
-One detailed and specific teaching idea that you could use with your book
We also used this book to begin showing figurative language such as similes in literature. The students quickly realized that although the dog may be smelly, it doesn't actually smell like dirty socks. ...more

I really loved this book because of all of the creativity and imagination it displays. It also has tons of figurative language and would be good to teach some vocabulary or do an exciting art projects. It explains how a students family is so much more than a drawing and the student uses all of these different objects to create what really shows the character of their family members. "My mom is as bright as a light." This book had great illustrations as well. I would definitely use this for an ac I really loved this book because of all of the creativity and imagination it displays. It also has tons of figurative language and would be good to teach some vocabulary or do an exciting art projects. It explains how a students family is so much more than a drawing and the student uses all of these different objects to create what really shows the character of their family members. "My mom is as bright as a light." This book had great illustrations as well. I would definitely use this for an activity in my classroom. ...more

BUY THIS BOOK!
It's wonderful!
Illustrations are unique and funny. This is an amazing story to share with young children to build their vocabularies and introduce descriptive writing. It's very well done. I can't sing the author's praises enough! (Maybe as loud as a whistle, or maybe a horn...)
The ending is especially wonderful- tell me about your special family. "What do they look like" challenge spins an activity- love that! BUY THIS BOOK!
It's wonderful!
Illustrations are unique and funny. This is an amazing story to share with young children to build their vocabularies and introduce descriptive writing. It's very well done. I can't sing the author's praises enough! (Maybe as loud as a whistle, or maybe a horn...)
The ending is especially wonderful- tell me about your special family. "What do they look like" challenge spins an activity- love that! ...more

Found in the activity alcove in the art museum in OKC. A little long for that setting, but perfect for a family or classroom. Even older students could use it to have fun with symbolic artistic expression. After all, symbols have been used in art into the indefinite past (see, for fun examples, here: http://blog.artsome.co/decoding-symbo...). Found in the activity alcove in the art museum in OKC. A little long for that setting, but perfect for a family or classroom. Even older students could use it to have fun with symbolic artistic expression. After all, symbols have been used in art into the indefinite past (see, for fun examples, here: http://blog.artsome.co/decoding-symbo...). ...more

Super cute, Sparks the imagination

Although it starts out selling simplistic, this cleaver book is flooded with amazing descriptors and would make a wonderful prompt to inspire creativity and colorful vocabulary.

Jun 06, 2019 Meg McGregor rated it it was amazing

This is a wonderfully inventive way, to bring both art and writing, either into a classroom or home.

The girls want to create their own family portraits now!

I can't think of any better reason, to recommend this book! Can you?

This is a wonderfully inventive way, to bring both art and writing, either into a classroom or home.

The girls want to create their own family portraits now!

I can't think of any better reason, to recommend this book! Can you?

...more

Its cute and funny. Great book for teaching similes. I loved how we can use this book to help our little ones describe our family members. After reading I could even use this book and have my students create their own family portraits. This could be a great family project.

What a fun book! I picked this gem up at a library book sale and I'm so glad I did. I am going to use it this year in my poetry unit with 3rd graders. What a fun book! I picked this gem up at a library book sale and I'm so glad I did. I am going to use it this year in my poetry unit with 3rd graders. ...more

Sep 09, 2019 emyrose8 rated it really liked it

Love it! Lots of figurative language! Plus great ideas for an art/writing project.

Nov 08, 2019 Kirsten Murphy rated it really liked it

Love the creativity of this author!

TOPICS:
* family
* creativity
* individuality

BOOK CONNECTIONS:
* other books by this author
* The Perfect Purple Feather

Jan 07, 2020 Andi rated it really liked it

Hilarious children's book for figurative language.

Mar 28, 2020 Lucca rated it it was amazing

What a cool, crafting activity book. So many conversations to have and art to make.

i think this is good!!!!!!!!!

I like that this book encourages children to use found materials to create art.

Interesting concept that would get kids thinking about objects and how they can describe us.

Jun 25, 2013 Corrina rated it really liked it

Read my full review at wadingthroughbooks.wordpress.com!

This is a great, very creative story that integrates narrative and visual art and encourages kids to connect physical objects to symbolism. For example, the narrator says her daddy is as playful as a spinning top, and that her mommy is as bright as the brightest light, and shows items like tops and lightbulbs beside the words, and then uses those objects to create the picture of the whole person. It's a very positive story about self-image,

Read my full review at wadingthroughbooks.wordpress.com!

This is a great, very creative story that integrates narrative and visual art and encourages kids to connect physical objects to symbolism. For example, the narrator says her daddy is as playful as a spinning top, and that her mommy is as bright as the brightest light, and shows items like tops and lightbulbs beside the words, and then uses those objects to create the picture of the whole person. It's a very positive story about self-image, since the narrator describes herself last, using all kinds of words like sharp, majestic, colorful, lovely, strong, funny, curious, and with a big heart to love her special family. The book has some words in a larger font, usually the object names beside their picture, so an older reader can point to the words and to their accompanying picture for a beginning reader. The last two pages give examples of adjectives and items which can represent the word, such as using a ruler, numbers, or an owl to show 'smart', or a teddy bear, a cotton ball, or a slipper to show 'soft'.

The Author's Note says that he got the idea for the book from an art workshop with children and teenagers, where they created family portraits using everyday found objects. This could make a creative, interesting, cheap, and easy art project for all ages, to be done after reading the book.

...more

News & Interviews

We're halfway through 2022—that seemed awfully fast, didn't it?—so it's time once again for our annual check-in of Goodreads' most popular new...

Welcome back. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account.

acostanobjess1992.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/961013

Share this post