From Booklist
Gr. 2-4. The latest easy chapter book about Marvin starts off with the usual hilarious comedy. Marvin's teacher asks him to care for her aging dog, Waldo, while she's away for a week, and she gives Marvin the key to her house. First, there's the shock of seeing his teacher with a life outside the classroom ("Mrs. North was almost like a real person"). All his classmates envy him. He tries to act mature and responsible, not allowing his friends in Mrs. North's house, walking Waldo, coaxing Waldo to eat, even eating the dog food himself to make sure it's all right. But Waldo won't eat, and the story takes a surprising turn when the dog dies. Marvin must cope with his feelings of guilt and sadness and with his isolation as the kids at school and the substitute teacher turn on him. The farcical cover showing an embarrassed Marvin in his teacher's clothes closet is totally misleading. However, readers will relate to the tension and reversal in the story. They'll recognize Marvin's feelings, both the humor of having to confront your teacher as a person and the sorrow at the death of a beloved pet. Hazel Rochman


Review
This title will lure the most reluctant readers, who will be as glad to make Marvin's acquaintance as his old fans will be to greet a new adventure."--Bulletin, Center for Children's Books.  


Review
This title will lure the most reluctant readers, who will be as glad to make Marvin's acquaintance as his old fans will be to greet a new adventure."--Bulletin, Center for Children's Books.  


Book Description
Illus. in black-and-white. Marvin's friends think he's the luckiest boy in the world when his teacher asks him to dog-sit for a week. He gets to be alone in Mrs. North's house! But pretty soon it starts to look as if Marvin is not so lucky after all...."This title will lure the most reluctant readers, who will be as glad to make Marvin's acquaintance as his old fans will be to greet a new adventure."--Bulletin, Center for Children's Books.



Card catalog description
Marvin is pleased when his teacher asks him to take care of her dog while she's away, but he soon finds that there's more pressure involved than he likes.


From the Inside Flap
Illus. in black-and-white. Marvin's friends think he's the luckiest boy in the world when his teacher asks him to dog-sit for a week. He gets to be alone in Mrs. North's house! But pretty soon it starts to look as if Marvin is not so lucky after all...."


From the Back Cover
This title will lure the most reluctant readers, who will be as glad to make Marvin's acquaintance as his old fans will be to greet a new adventure."--Bulletin, Center for Children's Books.


About the Author
Louis Sachar was born in East Meadow, New York, moved to Southern California when he was nine, and now lives in Austin, Texas.  Louis's first book for children, Sideways Stories from Wayside School was accepted for publication during his first week of law school.  Although Louis graduated and passed the bar exam, he opted to be a full-time writer for children rather than a lawyer.

Louis met his wife, Carla, when he was a visiting author at a school in Texas.  She was a counselor at the same school.  They have a daughter, Sherre.  Louis likes to play chess, cards, ski, play the guitar (and sing loudly), but mostly he likes spending time with Carla and Sherre.  

ANNOTATION

Marvin is pleased when his teacher asks him to take care of her dog while she's away, but he soon finds that there's more pressure involved than he likes.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

...when Mrs. North asks him to dog-sit for a week. He gets $3 a day, plus a $4 bonus if nothing goes wrong. And he gets to be alone in Mrs. North's house! But pretty soon it starts to look as if Marvin won't be getting his bonus. Maybe he's not so lucky after all...

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Dr. Judy Rowen