Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School by Julie Falatko
Published by Scholastic Inc. on May 29th 2018
ISBN: 1338189514
Pages: 192
Goodreads

This book is written for those who enjoy a realistic situation that uses humor to move the story. It’s a hilarious romp through the mind of a dog, well, two dogs, who go to school. The premise is silly, in the best way. The execution is fun, if you can suspend your need for realism, which most kids can easily do, and it brings up very real issues like bullying and taking responsibility for your work.  Sassy and Waldo are good dogs; after all, no squirrel has ever breached their perimeter, and they love their boy Stewart. But they are concerned that he is coming home from this terrible place called school smelling like anxiety and boredom, so they hatch a plan to infiltrate this evil place to check it out. Waldo has picked up enough English along the way to pose as a new student. Hi-jinks ensue and the two really do end up helping Stewart be more responsible and enjoy school more. The voices of the dogs were spot-on and the message of taking responsibility and seeing things in a different light would make this a wonderful upper-elementary in-class read-aloud or a family read-aloud (Falatko inserts plenty of witty humor for adults in this one). Jack’s black & white illustrations add to the ease of reading and entertainment of the book. Give this to fans of Bad Kitty, Stink, Stick Dog, and Captain Underpants or to strong elementary readers all the way through to middle grade readers who appreciate a laugh and love dogs. More books in the series are on their way in 2019.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth