[.ca] Dominic (ISBN 0374418268)

From Amazon.com:
Dominic is a one-of-a-kind dog. One day this exuberant, restless, freedom-loving fellow decides there isn't enough going on in his neighborhood to satisfy his need for adventure. And off he goes, with an assortment of hats (rakish, dashing, solemn, and martial), his precious piccolo, and a few other things, leaving a note on his door: Dear Friends, I am leaving rather in a hurry to see more of the world, so I have no time to say goodbye to you individually. I embrace you all and sniff you with love. I don't know when I'll be back. But back I will be. Dominic. On the road, this curious canine is lighthearted, open to every option, all senses aquiver. It's not long before he encounters a prophetic witch-alligator, (who had "many more teeth than necessary for any ordinary dental purpose"); a catfish who gives him a long, sharp spear that will make him invincible in serious combat; and even the infamous Doomsday Gang, "who robbed, ravaged, cheated, attacked innocent creatures at large and travelers especially, and did all sorts of damaging mischief." Dominic remains undaunted throughout, for "challenges were his delight. Whatever life offered was, this way or that, a test of one's skills, one's faculties; and he enjoyed proving equal to these tests." As he continues his journey, we find Dominic to be considerate, compassionate, generous, and philosophical. As he ponders the nature of death, the nature of wealth, the role of art in our lives, the nature of good and evil, and the yearning for true love, readers are left with a feeling that life is basically good, and even splendid: "What a wonderful world!" thought Dominic. "How perfect!" Had it been up to him when things were first made, he wouldn't have made them a whit different. Every leaf was in its proper place. Pebbles, stones, flowers, all were just as they ought to be. Water ran where it should run. They sky was properly blue. All sounds were in tune. Everything had its appropriate smell. Kids will adore the magical, comical, action-packed adventures of this remarkable dog, and readers of any age will come away from William Steig's Dominic somehow changed. An ALA Notable Book. (Ages 8 and older, and a wonderful read-aloud for younger children) --Karin Snelson

Only 50 pages into it & already in love:
I am a 5th grade teacher, and we read "Abel's Island" as part of our curriculum. I adore Steig's style, so I decided to buy "The Real Thief" and "Dominic" for summer reading. I read all of "The Real Thief" on the car ride home (I was not the one driving) and now I am about 50 pages into Dominic and it is incredible! I wanted to save it to read at the beach, but I don't think I can wait that long! While detailing the first few chapters to a friend, she got chills imagining how whimsical and wonderful this dog's tale is! Ok, gotta go...I have a date with a dog named Dominic. :)

I worship this book!:
This is one of the most amazing books I have ever encountered. William Steig creates a world to lose yourself in with evil foxes, charming geese, complex characters galore, and of course, our favorite dog of all time, Dominic himself. Perhaps the best part about Dominic is its sense of the mystery and wonder of life, of the importance of making good choices and the opportunities offered by taking the path less traveled. I absolutely fell in love with this book- it's a tale of wonder, excitement, chases, escapes, and doing the right thing. Dominic truly has a "heart of gold with nerves of steel," and he is so noble and young and brave and truthful that you wish you could leap right into the pages and help him out whenever the Doomsday Gang tries another attack. It's a truly amazing and touching read- I still get choked up when I read it sometimes.

Great book!:
I bought this book for my 7 year old because his name is also Dominic. I read it to him each night before bed. He really liked it. Dominic (the dog) is a very witty dog who gets through many different adventures. I actually enjoyed reading this book to my son. This book is positive and definitely gets kids to use their imaginations!

Dominic:
Dominic ,is a fast paced ,fun to read book. the story is filled with heartwarming and adventerous moments. The book is about a dog that goes on a journey and finds a series of adventures. Dominic meets a wild bunch of animal characters on the way. Most of the character's names didn't fit with their appearance ,for example Matilda Fox is a goose. Matilda Fox is my favorite character because she tried new things such as flying , walking ,and swimming. The Doomsday gang didn't have names. The gang is an evil troop of animals that Dominic had to defeat over and over again. If you want to join Dominic on his fun filled adventures ,pick up Dominic and get pulled inside a journey.

Best children's book ever!:
This was the first "real book" I remember reading as a little boy. I suppose I was about 6 or 7. I read and re-read Dominic many times and loved it more each time. I suppose it has be something like 35 years since I first read this book and I still remember it fondly. How many things can you say that about?