ALA Booklist (Mon May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2006)

With big, clear pictures, a short, simple line of text on each page, and lots of repetition, this title in the Viking Easy-to-Read series will draw new readers into a playful pet story. The first joke is the name of the character: Tiny is actually a huge dog. When the small boy takes Tiny camping, they pack what they need (Tiny creates chaos in the kitchen when it's time to pack the food). They find a good place to camp ich turns out to be in the yard, where they chase fireflies together. When it's time for bed, however, they discover that the tent is too tiny for the huge mutt. They solve the problem in a delightfully funny fashion, and then look at the stars together. The camping adventure close to home is lots of fun, and beginning readers can go on from this book to other pet stories, such as Cynthia Rylant's books about Henry and Mudge.

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2006)

Tiny, the giant dog, is back in another simple story for emergent readers. He and his boy are planning a camping trip in their backyard. Though the story itself is slight and may not bear repeated readings, all the elements are here to encourage reading success, such as word repetition and visual clues in the cheerful art.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 1-Youngsters will be delighted with this story about an enormous dog and the small boy who owns him. The two plan a camping trip, pack some food, and head out to pitch their tent. After it is set up, the child builds a fire for cooking hot dogs (which sets a questionable safety example, to say the least). When it is time for bed, the not-so-tiny pooch attempts to join his friend in the tent, with disastrous results. But misadventures do not diminish the campers' enthusiasm. The illustrations make a significant contribution to the story. The silliness of the dog is made funnier by his exaggerated size. A little bluebird appears in most pictures, adding a reassuring light touch. Although Tiny and his human haul a red wagon full of supplies to their camping area, there are hints along the way that they are not traveling far, and the final page shows that they are in their own backyard. Meister is careful with her word choices, providing repetition and context clues for those that are more difficult. There are additional clues in the art, making this book an excellent choice for beginning readers.-Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.