Doggies
A counting book where the numbers are replaced by different dog barks. It’s an interactive experience that requires the reader to perform various sounds, leading to a noisy, funny finale.
Doggies by Sandra Boynton is estimated to take about 2.5 minutes to read aloud (60 words, about 1 sentence a page), and it lands best with children aged 0-3.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 2.5 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Estimated word count
- 60Our estimate
- Sentences per page
- 1Sentence per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5repeat friendly
- Vocabulary level
- 1/5plain words
- Best for
- Ages 0-3Our editorial fit
Our review
This is a great way to engage toddlers who might normally ignore standard number books. The requirement to perform different barks—from quiet woofs to loud yips—keeps them focused on the pages.
The book ends with a bit of chaos that usually leaves a toddler feeling energized and ready for more. It's a high-interaction, high-noise choice.
Before you buy it
Ten consecutive barks can be quite a lot for a reader, and it tends to leave toddlers feeling noisy rather than ready for sleep.
Themes
- counting
- dogs
- animal sounds
- first numbers
Books like Doggies
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read Doggies aloud?
About 2.5 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 60. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is Doggies actually for?
Ages 0-3 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 1 sentence a page and vocabulary at 1 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does Doggies survive being read on repeat?
Yes. It survives a fortnight of nightly repeats, which is the real test.
Is Doggies a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it has a refrain a child can join in with, and it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise Doggies?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 4 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read Doggies on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 1 sentence a page and plain vocabulary (1 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
What themes does Doggies cover?
We tag it with counting, dogs, animal sounds and first numbers. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
Lists Doggies is on
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59 reviewed booksBoard BooksA curated list of 60 board books for ages 0-3, including read-aloud times and durability ratings for books that survive chewing and rereading.- 30 reviewed booksBoard Books for BabiesHandpicked board books for babies (birth to age two) with read-aloud times and word counts to help you find books they'll actually love.
- 30 reviewed booksBoard Books for ToddlersFind board books built for toddler repetition. Includes read-aloud times and scores for handling constant repeats.