ALA Booklist

Charlie dislikes school so much that on Sunday nights, he can't sleep. Looking enviously at his snoozing dog, Norman, Charlie sighs, "I wish I was a dog." The next morning, Charlie wakes up on the floor and sees Norman in his bed. He watches his mother pat the dog's head and tell him that it's time for school. The two switch places for an entire week before Charlie decides that he's had enough and wishes to be a boy again. Defined by bold lines, rounded shapes, and bright colors, the artwork features amusing pictures of the dog maneuvering classroom activities and the boy doing typical doggy things, including drinking out of the toilet, a scene sure to draw laughs. The choice to illustrate Charlie always as a boy and Norman as a dog makes the visual humor work, though kids may wonder why no one else notices the switch. Still, the story reads aloud well, and the digital artwork adds to the fun.

Horn Book

Charlie hates school and wishes on a star to change places with his dog, Norman. After a week of canine life, Charlie decides it's not for him. The crux of this amusing tale is that Charlie and Norman never actually trade bodies; Biggs's illustrations, featuring simple shapes with bold black outlines, offer comical views of a boy behaving like a dog, and vice versa.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

It-s an entire week of Freaky Friday when Charlie-s wish to forego school and live a dog-s life results in a magical swapping of places with his pet, Norman. The dream sours when they both encounter the -long, boring, awful- aspects of the other-s existence (grooming appointments, stories about cats) and discover that bad behavior has its consequences no matter your species. DiPucchio-s (Crafty Chloe) tight, straight-faced prose (-On Friday, Norman ran into some trouble with the scissors and the glue-) is a great read throughout, but just as Gromit is funnier and more intriguing than Wallace, the humor and interest scales of this story tip very much in favor of Norman, who Biggs (Everything Goes) draws as a sort of kidney bean with droopy ears. Norman takes to kid life like he was born to it, creating a strikingly realistic hydrant out of clay and passing out after trying to finish a -triple hot-fudge banana sundae with extra whipped cream.- Reach for this one when the realities and routine of school require a little comic perspective. Ages 6-8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (June)

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1 Rather than face the grind of practicing his letters, drawing pictures, and trying to explain himself to his teacher, young Charlie wishes he could trade places with his carefree dog, Norman, on Sunday night. When his mother comes to wake him for school on Monday morning, it seems that his wish has come true. Hilarity ensues as Norman tries out the boy's activities throughout the week&30;with mixed results. He does fine with playing house, kickball, and maracas, but the teacher scolds him "for chewing his pencil, and the table, and her shoes." Meanwhile, Charlie stares out the window watching leaves fall, drinks from the toilet bowl, and endures a trip to the groomer. At week's end, and relegated to the backyard, Charlie wishes to be a boy once again. This clever text explores the "grass is always greener" notion with a deadpan delivery and Biggs's delightful, boldly outlined cartoon art extends the humor and brings down the (dog) house. The perfect choice for any reluctant scholars. Luann Toth , School Library Journal