Book summary

Officer Buckle knows a lot about safety, but his boring lectures put his audiences to sleep. When he brings in his new partner, police dog Gloria, his lecture is suddenly a success! He has never seen the students so attentive, and the accident rate in the Napville schools actually decreases. What Officer Buckle doesn't realize is that Gloria is acting out the terrible accidents he describes; for example, when he warns about electric shock, Gloria stands behind him and jumps up with all her fur standing on end. When Officer Buckle discovers Gloria's antics, he angrily quits the lecture circuit. Can the students of Napville reunite man and dog? This funny look at the important issues of friendship, teamwork, and safety is the winner of the 1996 Caldecott Medal.

Media reviews

"In true picture book fashion, the illustrations move beyond the story and enrich it....Children in the primary grades respond to this book with great enthusiasm, as do their parents, because of its clever and abundant humor and its well-balanced, action-filled story."