Go, Dog. Go!
Encyclopedia
Go, Dog. Go! is a 1961 children's book
written and illustrated by P. D. Eastman.
The book describes the actions and interactions of a group of highly mobile dog
s, who operate cars
and other conveyances in pursuit of work, play, and a final mysterious goal: a dog party.
The book introduces concepts such as color and relative position with simple language and humor. ("The blue dog is in. The red dog is out.")
Throughout the book, details in Eastman's illustrations seem to invite the reader to notice the deeper significance of small things. In their first appearance, a girl dog asks a boy dog if he likes her hat with its little flower. He does not; they part. Several pages later, we meet them again. Now they are riding scooters
; she has a hat with a feather. Again, he does not like her hat, but as they part, he has made off with the feather. When we next see them together, they are skiing. The boy dog does not like the long ski cap the girl dog is wearing. They part as she bids him an angry farewell. In their final meeting her hat is even more elaborate and finally meets the approval of the boy dog; in this way a relationship is developed between the characters despite the simplicity of the text.
In 2003, a musical version of the book for the stage was created by Steven Dietz
and Allison Gregory for the Seattle Children's Theatre
. This play has been widely staged throughout the US, often as an introduction to theater for young children.
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
written and illustrated by P. D. Eastman.
The book describes the actions and interactions of a group of highly mobile dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s, who operate cars
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
and other conveyances in pursuit of work, play, and a final mysterious goal: a dog party.
The book introduces concepts such as color and relative position with simple language and humor. ("The blue dog is in. The red dog is out.")
Throughout the book, details in Eastman's illustrations seem to invite the reader to notice the deeper significance of small things. In their first appearance, a girl dog asks a boy dog if he likes her hat with its little flower. He does not; they part. Several pages later, we meet them again. Now they are riding scooters
Kick scooter
A kick scooter or push scooter, originally scooter, is a human-powered vehicle with a handlebar, deck and wheels that is propelled by a rider pushing off the ground. The most common scooters today have two hard small wheels, are made primarily of aluminium and fold for convenience...
; she has a hat with a feather. Again, he does not like her hat, but as they part, he has made off with the feather. When we next see them together, they are skiing. The boy dog does not like the long ski cap the girl dog is wearing. They part as she bids him an angry farewell. In their final meeting her hat is even more elaborate and finally meets the approval of the boy dog; in this way a relationship is developed between the characters despite the simplicity of the text.
In 2003, a musical version of the book for the stage was created by Steven Dietz
Steven Dietz
Steven Dietz is an American playwright whose work is largely performed regionally, i.e. outside of New York City...
and Allison Gregory for the Seattle Children's Theatre
Seattle Children's Theatre
Founded in 1975, Seattle Children's Theatre is the second-largest resident theatre for young audiences in North America and among the 20 largest regional theatres in the United States, with an annual operating budget of approximately $6.5 Million...
. This play has been widely staged throughout the US, often as an introduction to theater for young children.