Away We Go!
Go Dog Go by P.D. Eastman
One of the joys of children's books is that the world of knowledge is so broad. There is so much to learn when one is two--words, numbers, colors, values. These incredible creatures called children are learning how the world works and every new thing fills them with wonder.
Go, Dog, Go captures some of that excitement. It starts out simply. "Dog". It then builds by adding a word, then two words. The illustrations grow in complexity and number as the simple sentences expand. Like Dr. Seuss and William Shakespeare, P.D. Eastman uses a cadence to mesmerize the readers and to make the book as addictive as a song.
Then the book backs off again, subtly changing the rhythm by creating a two-page interaction between two dogs, an interaction that will repeat with only the visual variation of a different hat until the end. A male and female dog meets. The female dog asks the male dog if he likes her hat (Perhaps P.D. Eastman was trying to teach young girls that it is pointless to ask a man what he thinks about her hat or hair or clothing??). The male dog does not. They part company. (Then again, perhaps P.D. Eastman was trying to give the young boys a hint: The answer should always be "yes.")
The book then introduces the concept of opposites: in and out, up and down, over and under--all the while maintaining a sing-song cadence to enthrall the young readers and encourage them to mimic it. Eastman introduces all sorts of colors; there are red dogs, blue dogs, white dogs, and green dogs. I've read those literary critics who say that this book, written in the early 60s, was an attempt to address racism and encourage a multicultural society. Perhaps. If so, it does so subtly and without preaching at the child.
The language in this book is simple and very appealing to young children. My son loves to point out the different colors and to point up and down as the dogs go up trees, down into the water, over houses, and under houses. That is part of the wonderful appeal of this book--very young children are able to recognize many of the words and it builds their self-confidence as the words are reinforced.
At the end, there is a celebration--a party of dogs that will delight any child. The party takes place up a tree and there are games galore going on. And our two hat-obsessed dogs show up again. This time, the female dog's hat is outrageous and the male dog likes it. They ride off together into the sunset.
