Jeff Crosby (jeffcrosbyillustration.com) has illustrated for several notable publications, including the "New York TImes," the "Village Voice" and "Entertainment Weekly," as well as seven children's books. He coauthored and coillustrated the award winning juvenile nonfiction book, "Little Lions, Bull Baiters & Hunting Hounds: A History of Dog Breeds" with his wife, Shelley. The couple lives in the wilds of Colorado with their pack: daughter, Harper; shih tzu, Millie; and two wiener dogs, Baron and Fritz.
"Life with Granny had become too tame" for Wiener Dog, so, inspired
by a nature documentary, he takes off to the forest, finds some new
lupine companions, sheds his hand-knitted doggie sweater, and
becomes Wiener Wolf. That's clearly the life for him, running with
the wolf pack and gamboling with the puppies-until he discovers
that the pack's energetic chase of the deer isn't just for fun but
for food. That's enough to turn Wiener Wolf back into Wiener Dog
and send him back home to Granny, his water bowl, and a new sweater
(and the occasional outing with the pups in the dog park). While
the motivations for the plot turns are somewhat flimsy, the concept
of a wee little sausage dog running with the wolves is amusingly
incongruous, and the text plays up the contrast in short, punchy
phrases. The muddy tones of the thickly painted illustrations
prevent Wiener Dog from standing out as he ought to, but his
lengthy form has both authenticity and humor on its side, and the
fine detailed brushstrokes for fur and foliage provide depth and
texture. This would actually be an effective elementary readalone
for young fans of the Kevin O'Malley school of sardonic irony, as
well as being an enjoyable readaloud tale to kids who understand
both the lure of the wild world and the comforts of home. DS
BCCB"
Crosby (Little Lions, Bull Baiters, & Hunting Hounds) turns in a
tight, polished performance in this story of a dachshund that
answers the call of the wild (and then redials). Crosby's paintings
display a thorough understanding of his hero's boredom--and sense
of adventure. Wiener Dog lies belly up in his dog bed, watching as
Granny slops another can of wet dog food into his bowl; one can
almost hear him groan. So when he runs away and befriends a pack of
wolves, life seems ideal. "He had a new backyard and a new water
dish and new squeaky toys," Crosby writes as Wiener Dog runs
through the forest, drinks from a stream, and tussles with adorable
wolf cubs. Ideal, that is, until the climax of the wolves' hunt; it
occurs offstage, but is clearly bloody. "Yikes!" says Wiener Dog.
Crosby employs an array of techniques in his visual storytelling,
from the way Wiener Dog appears to run right out of spot
illustrations to the hilarious contrast between the turtleneck
sweater wearing dog and the slavering wolves. This wiener's a
winner. PW"
Wiener Dog is a bored and pampered dachshund itching to break away
from his ho-hum life in the lap of his doting owner, an
old-fashioned grandmother. Watching a TV show about howling wolves
is the catalyst for Wiener Dog's transformation from a meek,
domesticated dog in a red sweater to his alter ego: Wiener Wolf.
The adventurous dachshund hitches a ride to a state park, meets up
with a pack of wolves and takes a walk on the wild side as he
explores fresh territory with his new furry friends. At first, the
smaller dog is intimidated by the wolves, but he loses his sweater
and joins the pack, making for a hilarious juxtaposition of the
little dog scrambling to keep up with the much larger wolves. The
dog loses his nerve as the wolves close in on a fleeing deer,
depicted on a white background with loping, snarling wolves and the
little dog frozen with a horrified expression. Wiener Wolf reverts
back to Wiener Dog, running right out of the illustration and
hitching a ride back home to Granny. The dachshund is funny in both
movement and expression, and the wild-eyed wolves are suitably
scary. Dachshund owners young and old will adore this. The
portrayal of Granny is regrettably stereotypical, though. Running
with wolves is enticing, but coming back home is always a comfort.
Kirkus"
Wiener Dog, a sweater-wearing lap dog who lives with Granny, feels
that something is missing in his prosaic lifestyle. He is losing
the wag in his tail and he doesn't know what he yearns for until he
sees some wolves on TV. He hitches a ride with some campers headed
for the wilderness where he meets some fearsome wolves that sense
the shared DNA and permit him to run with the pack. Wiener Dog
quickly sheds his sweater and transforms into the brave and daring
Wiener Wolf. He proudly answers the call of the wild until he
witnesses the predators' fierce hunt. He then realizes that he is
just Wiener Dog and that he belongs at home with Granny. After his
return, he satisfies his quest for adventure in the park, where he
runs with a domestic pack. Readers will enjoy Crosby's soft,
acrylic illustrations that portray the wolves in a wild, realistic
way while Wiener Dog is full of human emotion. Each page is rich
with details and gives readers much to explore. The minimal text
perfectly complements each illustration, which makes this book a
good choice for early readers. Some young listeners may find the
illustrations of the wolves a bit frightening, but dog lovers will
especially adore Wiener Wolf. SLJ"
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