Third grade readers. Cute story about a dog. The story is based on the true life events of a real dog which will intrigue the students. ( )

From 1968 vintage scholastic cover:

Meet Clarence...

"I started writing stories," says Patricia Lauber, "because Clarence expected it of me. He was the most interesting subject he could think of for me to write about. All the adventures in the book are ones that either have happened to clarence for might very well happen to him tomorrow. you have his word for this as well as mine, since he took a deep interest in the preparation of the book, chewing on pencils, putting his face into the typewriter, and otherwise assisting me in my literary labors."

Clarence is equally interested in the preparation of his book for printing. By appointment he visited our offices. Alert and attentive, he sits in on an editorial conference.--The Editor

---- In this charming book, Clarence the dog catches a burgler, lets Cat in and out, introduces neighbors, helps create a new dress design. And more. He's called the tv dog for his avid interest in watching television programs, for he is a very intelligent dog. He prefers to wait until a program has ended.

This is definitely a book for dog-lovers. I've looked through it and can see it's lively and well-written and not an early reader by any means. Patricia Lauber plays "biographer" for Clarence and writes in first person. Leonard Shortall enhances this book with his black and white line drawings.

A collection of cute stories about the author's dog: some are fiction and some are non-fiction. ( )