My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks

51GK41BC2AL
Author(s)
Genre(s)
Age Range
4+
Release Date
May 08, 2007
ISBN
0375840524
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How do you draw your smelly dog? Your playful daddy? Your yummy mommy? See how one girl does it in this simple, clever picture book that's comprised of family portraits made out of objects. For example, her baby brother is so noisy—he's as loud as a whistle, a horn, and even a fire truck!—that she creates a picture of him with whistles for eyes, a horn mouth, and holding a fire truck. After the girl has described everyone in her family (including herself, in great detail), she asks, "What does your special family look like?" encouraging readers to create their own portraits. With a list of objects at the end of the book to use as a guide, this is the ideal choice for budding artists everywhere.

Here's a wonderful exploration of simile and metaphor for young readers. And don't miss the companion book My Best Friend is as Sharp as a Pencil!

Editor reviews

2 reviews
Funny Family Portraits
(Updated: July 09, 2026)
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
N/A
Writing Style
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
One little girl draws a picture of her family for her teacher. But the girl doesn't love her drawing. She thinks she can tell more about each person by using objects. She tells us her dad is jumpy like a spring, playful as a top, as much fun as a party favor, and stubborn as the knot in a rope. She puts them together, and . . .ta da!! The new portrait of her father shows a man with a top for a nose, springs for eyebrows, etc. She goes on to compose portraits of each member of the family, including her stinky dog.

As enjoyable as seeing, and hearing about, the girl's funny interpretations of each member of the family might be, there's a lovely message deep in the heart of the little girl (and of this book): Her family is special, and she loves them.

Kids will get a kick out of the story, and they will love the challenge at the end, complete with instructions, on making portraits of their own family.

The book's endpapers are just plain wonderful: portraits of family members made by children and teens with cancer.

Very highly recommended.
G
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