Kirkus Reviews

Charlie, a long-eared, nap-loving basset hound, provides a highly filtered view of his life on the ranch. As he tells it, he and his sidekick, Suzie, are in charge. His bouncy, short-eared friend seems to be some sort of a terrier—all energy—and is always a few steps ahead of her buddy. Charlie, well, he is a basset hound, perpetually in search of the next meal and a quiet place to sleep. He has to keep the cows in their places, help Mama with the garden, catch fish and, of course, sniff the steps. Like Gloria, of Office Buckle and Gloria fame, Charlie's perceptions are quite different from reality. His down-home dialogue coupled with expressive watercolors give readers not-so-subtle clues about the personality of the dogs involved. They see Suzie running and herding the cattle, lugging baskets of vegetables and generally keeping the ranch in shape while Charlie rests his eyes and sleeps. But one day Charlie finds himself without his sidekick and actually proves himself to be a valuable farmhand. Young readers will chuckle at the unabashed, obvious humor and will especially enjoy finding the hidden, unnamed chipmunk buddy on every page. Rather bafflingly, Drummond, mostly known for her Pioneer Woman blog, provides an unexpected recipe for lasagna as backmatter. This incongruity aside, Charlie's tale is an agreeable if ephemeral one. (Picture book. 2-6)

ALA Booklist (Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

Popular blogger and adult-book author Drummond (The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, 2011) writes from the point of view of her basset hound, Charlie, who shares details about their ranch life. Although Charlie states that it is he who is the caretaker, keeping critters away from the front porch and helping out in the garden, in actuality, he sleeps much of the time, and it is Suzie, a hyperactive Jack Russell terrier puppy and Charlie's best friend, who is on top of things. Charlie is OK with that until everyone goes off to work on another part of the ranch without him. However, he is able to prove his worth when cows get into the garden. DeGroat's cozy illustrations picture a beguiling Charlie on a comfortable ranch with appealing accoutrement. An observant chipmunk adds an extra touch of humor, and a lasagna recipe is thrown in for good measure. Mary Casanova's Some Dog (2007) and Sandra Day O'Connor's Finding Susie (2009) feature canines in similar situations.

Horn Book (Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

Ranch dog Charlie, a lazy basset hound, doesn't run, dig, or jump like his energetic sidekick Suzie. But when the cows start snacking in the farmer's garden, Charlie is right there to shoo them away. This is more an homage to the author's own pet than a story. DeGroat's illustrations capture both expressive dogs' antics. A gratuitous lasagna recipe is included.

School Library Journal (Sun May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

PreS-Gr 2 Charlie, a lovable layabout basset hound, believes, "Work. . .is what I do best." His friend Suzie, a young terrier, has boundless energy and zips around the ranch chasing squirrels, rounding up cattle, and fetching baskets of vegetables. Despite his proclamations, Charlie's real penchant is for eating ("Breakfast is my life") and napping ("Huh? What'd I miss? Oh. I must have accidentally closed my eyes for a few seconds"). But he springs into action when he is needed most and chases Daisy the cow out of the garden with a loud, hound-dog howl. DeGroat's winsome illustrations capture Charlie's daily routines, including sniffing the porch steps and snoozing in the grass. The comic irony of the text will amuse readers, and Charlie's quirks will win many fans. Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada