From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6–Barry wakes up one morning and finds that he is turning into a dog. Well, not quite. He's a boyhound, human on the outside, but definitely canine within. He thinks the change is rather cool. Dogs don't have to wear clothes, they can eat practically anything, and they don't have much in the way of responsibility. Of course, since he doesn't actually look like a dog, his family and friends have no idea that Barry has undergone this transformation. So, when he chases the cat, sniffs a strange woman's rear end, and bites his best friend, they figure that he has simply gone crazy. The wild action is funny, but the rambling narrative is somewhat difficult to follow. The author often interrupts the story to speak directly to readers, and there are many side comments, non sequiturs, and tangential footnotes. The inset photos, drawings, and diagrams often depict these peripheral points. There is considerable bodily function and gross-out humor as well. Adults may find all this rather distasteful, but middle grade readers–especially boys–with a penchant for off-the-wall humor, may enjoy Barry's misadventures.
–Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. One morning, young Barry wakes up and discovers that he has become a dog. In a twist on the familiar kid-dog switcheroo, Barry remains a boy on the outside, but his mind has gone completely canine. This means that in the course of Barry's dog day, he is splattered with the fragrant essence of dead raccoon, chases the family cat, is attacked by squirrels, and pees indiscriminately. The amusing, farcical plot is filled with frequent asides by the author, as well as goofy "factual" footnotes, sidebars, and illustrations. A couple of fleas in Barry's scalp are occasionally visited for their dialogue or Harold Pinter-esque silences. Spearman exploits all the gimmicks of the book trade, including an index (that works), a time line, and a collection of appendixes. Pure silliness, cleverly and exuberantly rendered.
Todd MorningCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
