The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Please Don't Tell Cooper He's A Dog
Because Please Don't Tell Cooper He's A Dog was Book of the Day, some of our most trusted members have carefully looked over the cover, the description, and other aspects of this book as a part of purchase-intent focus group. We then asked each participant in the focus group if they planned to buy and read the book, and why they planned to buy and read the book or not. Their answer to that question and reasons are displayed below. We call this awesome feature The First Ten Focus Group.
Keep in mind, the responses from the members are not reviews. This is purchase-intent focus group which means the participants are people who have NOT yet bought or read your book. A purchase-intent focus group is an important and extremely useful marketing tool for any product, not just books. For other products, you might walk on the street and show people an item in a package and poll them about whether they would buy if or $X or not. These kind of focus groups are one of the ways big marketing companies find the ideal price points for products and test the effectiveness of different packaging. The focus group can help you identify your market so you how to target ads of your book, and it can (but may not) provide you new useful info about your "packaging" (e.g. your book cover, your book synopsis on Amazon, etc.). The point of the focus group comments is to give you information from people who have not bought or read your book about why they plan to buy your book which will help you in marketing the book. These are not reviews or critiques of your book because they are not from people have read the book. This is a marketing tool, not reviews. The trick of book marketing and book advertising is that you have to convince people who have not read your book yet that your book is worth buying and reading. For marketing, it doesn't matter much if people love your book after reading it if you cannot convince potential buyers before they read it that they will love it.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable. This is because we only poll about 20 or so readers, and all readers have to say "no" to almost all books. Over a million books are published each year. Even a very active reader cannot come close to even reading 1% of books out there.
This is also why publishing books is such a tough industry.
va2016
The title "Please Don't Tell Cooper He's A Dog" conveys the message that the dog needs to be treated as an equal. The cover that shows the family and the dog is attractive, and also conveys that the book is for children. There are 46 Amazon customer ratings, with an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is terrific! The Amazon summary crisply describes the content of the book, and conveys that it is a children's book, and it's about a dog called Cooper. Although I am not interested in children's book, since the book is about a rescue dog, I would have sampled the book even if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration containing a couple of illustrations about how to treat Cooper properly. Since the content looks beautiful, I am going to read this book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. I didn't find any grammatical or mechanical errors in the sample. What I liked most about the book is its colourful illustrations. I don't have any suggestions for the improvement of the book. Although I found 5 OBC reviews of the book, my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on February 10, 2021, at 4:52 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
evraealtana
I don't have children, so I have no need for a children's book. Therefore, I would not have chosen this one for myself and will not continue to read the remainder of it. I agreed with the official OBC reviewer that the story could have used more detail; I would have liked to have known, for example, what things Cooper DID like to do before launching into what he refuses to do. I would also have liked to know more about Cooper's human family, since they are the ones telling the story. The illustrations were cute and reflected the lighthearted tone of the story, so I found them to be appropriate. I didn't find any errors in the sample. However, even allowing for "creative license", I don't think children's books should have incomplete sentences in them, since those books are how children learn to speak and write. Therefore, I think the line reading "A thing you should know, though, about our dear Cooper." should either end in a colon instead of a period or be rephrased to something like "There's one thing to know, though, about our dear Cooper".
First Ten review added on February 10, 2021, at 4:47 am by evraealtana.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
xsquare
I don’t usually read children’s books, so I wouldn’t have sampled the book based on the cover, title or blurb. The official OBC review didn’t really convince me otherwise. I really like the gorgeous illustrations in the book and the rhyme scheme that the author has used. I didn’t see any typos, and I don’t think that there was anything the author could have done better. I think this is the perfect book for parents of young children who wish to expose their kids to different language structures. However, I don’t think I will be reading the rest of the book as it personally doesn’t appeal to me.
First Ten review added on February 10, 2021, at 4:32 am by xsquare.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jeremie Mondejar
I will still sample this book even if without the First Ten Program because of the genre. I like to read children's book. I don't see the real story because the sample is quite short. I recommend adding a few pages of the actual story. I'm happy that I read the review, through it I learn the overview of the book. I will base my decision about the book's editing in the OBC review. The reviewer said that it was without typos. So far, I have liked the cover photo and the genre. I will read this book if I already have a spare money to buy this book.
First Ten review added on February 10, 2021, at 4:30 am by Jeremie Mondejar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Ekta Kumari
This is a children's book about Cooper, the dog, and how he believes himself to be a human and like what humans do. Through the book, the author aims to impart the message of treating animals with respect and as important members of the family. I liked the premise quite a bit, and, as I love reading children's book and liked the blurb, I would have read the book even if it wasn't a part of the top ten program. The thing I liked the most while sampling is hands down the illustrations. The graphics are realistic and artistically on point. I also like how the author has deliberately included the instances where Cooper has been treated just like a family member. The illustrations also indicate his space as a member of the family. I believe the book would really be insightful if caregivers and parents read this along with kids. I didn't find any editing errors and would rate the book as professionally edited. I did see an official review before sampling. I'll read the whole book as I've thoroughly enjoyed the sample so far. I don't have any specific recommendations to make for improvements.
First Ten review added on February 10, 2021, at 3:07 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mutai Marshal
The narrator is full of praise for Cooper. They have raised him as part of their family and taught him to behave well. The dog now fits into the human family. The language used in this book is simple. I loved most the graphical presentations, which make the book memorable and colorful. The cover page and title dissuaded me from reading this book as it hinted at being a children’s book, which is a genre I don’t like. Having sampled the first ten pages and read the OBC review, my decision stands. Therefore, I will not buy this book due to its genre (children’s book). It seems exceptionally edited, and there are no suggestions that I can offer for improvement.
First Ten review added on February 10, 2021, at 1:08 am by Mutai Marshal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AvidBibliophile
I love the playful color scheme, the font choices, and the whimsical illustration depicted in the cover art. Upon first glance, I feel this book would visually attract the intended target audience of young children in pet-friendly homes. The Amazon product description offers a succinct yet engaging synopsis, and I appreciated seeing an unexpected mention of included European destinations. I loved the whimsical simplicity of the rhyming rhetoric, and all of the illustrations seemed to match the paired text. I would have liked to have seen the siblings assigned names in some way; I think it would have helped personalize the characters to a greater degree. I did encounter some subjective editing choices, so grammatical fine-tuning could possibly be improved. On page 5, there appears to be a comma splice in "Come meet our dog[,] he's really quite super." Also on page 5, there appears to be an incomplete thought/sentence fragment that likely should have ended in an ellipsis: "A thing you should know, though, about our dear Cooper[.]" The one published OBC review mentioned some subjective criticisms, but the 4 additional featured volunteer OBC reviews all awarded this title a perfect score. I was also influenced by the positive presence of the 46 currently posted Amazon user ratings that seemed to sing this one's praises as well. Since I do love a sweet children's story that features the benefits of pet adoption and compassionate acceptance, I look forward to reading this story in its entirety!
First Ten review added on February 10, 2021, at 12:54 am by AvidBibliophile.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Catherine Hsu
I don't read kids' books so I would not have read this book, though I appreciate the cover art and the silly blurb. After reading the sample, I've changed my mind because the art style is just so impressive and as an artist, I'm happy just flipping through the book to look at them! The writing is professionally edited and the rhymes are so witty. I have absolutely nothing to change. The official review did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on February 10, 2021, at 12:21 am by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jennifer Donovan Smith
I would not have sampled this book outside the program because it is a children's book, and I don't have children in the target age range. The official OBC review makes this sound like a charming story that children would enjoy.
I tried to sample the book, but the Amazon sample only provided the title page, copyright, and dedication; there was no content. The pages that were included did not contain errors. I would recommend that the author include at least the first page of the story so that potential buyers know what to expect.
I will not be purchasing the book to read it because there was no sample content and I do not have children I could read this to.
First Ten review added on February 10, 2021, at 12:15 am by Jennifer Donovan Smith.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gabrielle Sigaki
Please Don't Tell Cooper He's A Dog by Michelle Lander Feinberg is a children's book that brings a dog named Cooper who acts like a human being. If I didn't sample this book, I wouldn't read it based on its Official OnlineBookClub review since the story didn't seem original. After sampling it, I changed my mind and I will read the entire novel since the plot of a dog who acts like a human interested me and seemed unique after reading the sample. It seems professionally edited, there's nothing that I would change in this book, and my favorite aspects were the illustrations, that have light colors with soft lines that bring a comfortable atmosphere that catches the reader's attention right away.
First Ten review added on February 9, 2021, at 10:03 pm by Gabrielle Sigaki.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mbrooks2518
A dog behaving like a human is a funny concept, and this book had 5 stars on Amazon and has received an award, so I would have sampled the book even without The First Ten. I liked the rhyming of the text. I also liked the illustrations. They are colorful and have a hand-drawn feel to them. My niece and nephew love dogs and will think a dog behaving like a human is hilarious, and I'd like to see what happens in the rest of the story, so I am going to buy the book. There were no editing errors, and nothing needs to be improved. The official review had no affect on my opinion.
First Ten review added on February 9, 2021, at 8:15 pm by Mbrooks2518.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Rodel Barnachea
Following my reading of the title's official OnlineBookClub review and Amazon page, I decided I will purchase this children's book. I had always wanted to have a pet dog when I was a child, and I still do now I'm an adult. I found the notion of a dog who acts like a human and thinks he or she is a human amusing and interesting. After I pored over the book's Amazon sample, I still felt the desire to purchase the title. The reasons for my decision are similar to the ones stated above. It's also because I enjoyed staring at the colorful illustrations included in the sample. The sample is very short and only covers about two pages of the actual book. What I liked most is the art style used by the illustrator in creating these illustrations. I couldn't identify any errors in the text and believe the book is professionally edited. I have nothing to suggest to the author.
First Ten review added on February 9, 2021, at 7:32 pm by Rodel Barnachea.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Annelore Trujillo
I would have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover and title. I like finding new children's books to read to my kids. After reading the sample, I will not be finishing this book. I liked the pictures of Cooper. They matched the text. However, I didn't think the writing flowed well. I had a hard time finding a good rhythm when reading out loud, especially when reading the line about not asking him to do tricks. I read books out loud to my kids, so I like when they flow well. This could use some improvement. I would also say that the book didn't seem to be professionally edited. For example, the first sentence contained a comma splice and the second sentence was a sentence fragment.
First Ten review added on February 9, 2021, at 6:28 pm by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Juliana_Isabella
I wouldn't have chosen this book because I don't usually read children's books. Even though the review I read was generally positive, it didn't make me want to read the book because it doesn't seem to be suitable for adults. I didn't find any errors in the first ten pages, and I liked the illustrations of the gigantic Cooper enjoying life. However, I thought the lines were very simplistic, and the story didn't seem to have much plot. Because of this, I don't plan to finish the book.
First Ten review added on February 9, 2021, at 3:42 pm by Juliana_Isabella.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Howlan
The cover is very simple and often not noticeable, so I think a more colorful version could be better to attract the attention of children. The Amazon sample contained three colorful pages of wonderful illustration that featured a dog who thinks it beneath himself to perform tricks. The concept is hilarious and could develop a better bond with your pets. I like the concept, but I am not going to read this book as I am not the target audience for this book. I consider this book suitable for young children. I prefer reading fast-paced mystery thrillers. No typos were found in the Amazon sample. I found nothing to improve in the Amazon sample. The Official OBC Review is present, and the reviewer felt that it was "too short and lacked some creativity."
First Ten review added on February 9, 2021, at 1:54 pm by Howlan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
gen_g
Based on the title and cover, it seems like a children's book, which I am not in the market for; hence, I would not have sampled it. I have also come across a positive OBC review of the book, but this would not have changed my decision not to sample, since this book does not belong to a genre that I am looking for. After sampling, there are a couple of errors present. For example, at loc 24, the sentence "A thing you should know, though, about our dear Cooper" is not independent, i.e., it is an incomplete sentence. It should be "There is a thing you should know, though, about our dear Cooper" – "there" is needed. I suggest more editing. However, I appreciate that the text on any page corresponds to the illustrations on the same page: for example, when the text is about not asking Cooper the dog to chase balls/sticks, the corresponding illustration shows Cooper ignoring the human beings who is throwing what seems to be a yellow tennis ball in favour of looking at the flowers. Still, I will not be buying the book today, as I am not in the market for children's books currently.
First Ten review added on February 9, 2021, at 11:35 am by gen_g.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Manang Muyang
That cover makes me laugh. The dog is the master of that house, or at least, that sofa. The title and blurb further confirm the funny premise of the book. I do enjoy kiddie stories, so I would have sampled the book on my own. Scrutinizing the three pages in the sample, I think this is a book that grade-schoolers would enjoy. The colorful illustrations are charming, but they may border on the unrealistic. Cooper seems too big in some of the pictures; there are giant butterflies, too. The verses are written in a rhyming pattern, all the better for kids to recall them. The first sentence is a comma splice, though. "Come meet our dog, he's really quite super" should use a period or semicolon in place of the comma. I like that the family is shown doing things together and that Cooper is certainly part of the family. However, the official OBC reviewer said the book lacked creativity. I'm afraid I won't have the chance to know why because I won't read the rest of Cooper's story. I have no kids to share it with.
First Ten review added on February 9, 2021, at 6:12 am by Manang Muyang.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sou Hi
The cover looks nice and kind of cute. The official review sounds interesting, and there are a number of good ratings on Amazon. Since I like animals, I decide to give this a try. The book talks about a big dog named Cooper, who is seemingly different from his fellows.
I like the book's concept and the colorful illustrations. Kids will surely like such beautiful pictures, and this book will be appealing to dog lovers. The editing looks fine. I have no complaints. Since I am interested in the content, I will buy this and read on.
Error example: Please Don't Tell Cooper He's a Dog -> Since all of the first letters are capitalized, I think "a" should be capitalized as well.
First Ten review added on February 9, 2021, at 3:44 am by Sou Hi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sanju Lali
It was evident to me from the cover and the title that this is a children's book. I considered reading the official review of this book to know about the takeaways from it. The official review that this book follows a dog named Cooper, who feels like a human being. This idea piqued my interest to sample the book. After reading the first ten pages, I realized that this book is not professionally edited because I found some grammatical errors in the sample. For example, the sentence, " For Chili, Charlie, and Cooper," . There should have been a period instead of a comma at the end of the sentence. The sentence could have been, " For Chili, Charlie, and Cooper. " to be correct. The thing l liked the most in this book is the bunch of illustrations, which can attract children. Having a grammatical error in the children's book is worrisome to me. My suggestion to the author would be to go for a round of professional editing and fix all the errors because children's books should be error-free as children accept things as they are. Looking at all these facts, I decided not to purchase and read this book today but wait until the author could help by addressing my suggestion so that reading the book could be rewarding to me.
First Ten review added on February 9, 2021, at 3:01 am by Sanju Lali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Shrabastee Chakraborty
I love children's books. The cover was delightful while the title intrigued me. The official OBC review rates this 3 stars. Based on these, I would ahve read the book. I didn't notice any errors in the excerpt. The illustrations were attractive. Cooper's ease with the family was evident, as well. I loved the sense of comfort this book exuded. I have no suggestions for improvement and will read this.
First Ten review added on February 9, 2021, at 1:50 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Lorraine De Vos
I definitely have no recommendations for improvements, as I loved every part of this book. I would have chosen to sample it based on the genre, because I generally enjoy children’s books for their humor, joy, and optimism. This one particularly struck a cord with me, because it touches on pet adoption. I have added this book to my reading list (and finished reading it). It is educational and easy to read, and the illustrations are colorful. I didn’t notice any errors, leaving me with the assumption that the book was professionally edited. The official OnlineBookClub review was good, but would not have swayed me either way, as my mind had already been made up.
First Ten review added on February 9, 2021, at 12:44 am by Lorraine De Vos.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kelyn
Even if I had not been a member of this program, it is entirely possible that the genre, cover, and title of this book would have caught my eye. I'm always looking at children's books to read to my grandson, and the title of this one, along with the cover, sounds hilarious as well as entirely plausible! I am not familiar with the author, so that would not have affected my decision. The blurb really paints a vivid picture of Cooper, and the book comes across as highly amusing and definitely geared toward the appropriate age group for my grandson. There were many customer reviews on the Amazon site that were overwhelmingly positive. Although I did not see a review on Amazon that was explicitly identified as being from this program, if I had, I would have been interested in what the reviewer had to say. The review on this site was highly complimentary. This added to the already great expectations going into the sample. The sample was shorter than I would have liked, but I understand that it's a children's book, and you don't want to give too much away. I can completely relate to this book. I have a German Sheperd mix (also a rescue) who thinks he should have all the rights a human does, including his own spot on the couch. I have to caveat that by saying that he's never actually tried to drive our car. I'll definitely be getting this one for my grandson. They have a Mastiff with the same attitude. Try imagining that! The book seemed well-edited, from what I could tell from the couple of pages we were given. I found no errors.
First Ten review added on February 9, 2021, at 12:11 am by Kelyn.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
J_odoyo
Please Don't Tell Cooper He's A Dog by Michelle Lander Feinberg seems to be a well-written children’s book. The cover page was wonderfully done, and I think the title was attractive. The illustrations are attractive and creative. I couldn’t find any error or anything to dislike about this book (in the pages I've read), this makes me believe that the book was professionally edited. The book’s description on the Amazon website was informative and could draw one’s attention to know more about this book. The had an official OnlineBookClub review, which gave an insight into what the book is all about. Having read the sample, I can say this is an enjoyable book, which will appeal to many kids. It's rare to find a dog with the characters of Cooper—baving like human and not happy with words like "dog" or "puppy". The illustrations by Anna Mosca were commendable. Sincerely, I wouldn't recommend anything for the improvement of this book. However, I’m not going to finish reading this book because I’m not a fan of children’s books. However, I may consider reading it to my kid one day.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 11:40 pm by J_odoyo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Justine Ocsebio
I would have sampled this book, as the premise seemed interesting. I like stories that treat dogs like family. I also find it interesting that the story is about a dog acting like a human. I additionally like the watercolor illustrations. I would finish the whole book, as the premise piqued my interest. I disliked nothing, and I didn’t see anything that needed improvement. The text is well edited. The official review did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 10:58 pm by Justine Ocsebio.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jsovermyer
I love the cover picture and the title and would definitely buy this book from the cover alone. The official reviewer liked the book but thought it was too short. I found no spelling or grammatical errors and believe it has been professionally edited. This cute children's story is funny and full of adventure. I like that it encourages people to adopt pets from animal shelters. There was nothing that I would change or that I disliked. Since it is a children's story, I have already finished reading it.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 9:39 pm by Jsovermyer.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Odette Chace
While I like the title and the cover, I am not interested in reading children's books. Neither the synopsis nor the official review made me want to read the book. I am too old for it. I did not notice any errors in the first ten pages and believe the work was professionally edited. The illustrations in the book were well done, especially the hands on all of the people. I enjoyed the illustrations the most. My least favorite aspect of the book is that it rhymes. I still do not plan to read the rest of the book. It is meant for children.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 9:30 pm by Odette Chace.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ari Martinez
If it wasn't for this program, I would not have sampled this book based on the cover, title, or Official OnlineBookClub review because I do not have any children to read this book to. After reading the sample, I will not continue to read the book because of the same reason mentioned previously. My favorite part of the sample was the rhyming; I thought it was done very nicely. The sentences aren't too short either, which I also liked. The book seems well edited, and I cannot think it can be improved.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 9:24 pm by Ari Martinez.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kaitlyn Canedy
I likely would have skipped the sample of Please Don't Tell Cooper He's A Dog if it hadn't been the OnlineBookClub's book of the day. I do not have kids, so I do not plan on reading this title in the near future. The sample was a little short for my liking. My suggestion for improvement would be to add more pages so readers can make a more informed decision. I loved the humor with Cooper in the book and on the cover; he mimics how bigger dogs act in real life. I did not find any grammatical errors at all in the sample. There is an official OnlineBookClub review, but I did not need to read it to decide about skipping this book. Readers that have kids that want a pet or have pets will likely love this book.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 9:06 pm by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Verna Coy
Although this book isn’t quite what I’d choose for myself, it does look like something that would appeal to children. What I loved the best bout it is the colorful illustrations. I know it is sure to please all dog lovers. So many of them will identify with how dogs seem like true members of the family and not dogs at all! I enjoyed the Official Online Book Club review. The book seems well edited, although my sample felt a bit shorter than I would have liked. All in all, a cute kids' book! As far as improvements, making it a little longer would be great, as it looks so fun.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 7:40 pm by Verna Coy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MsH2k
Because I like to read children’s books and I tutor young readers sometimes, I would have sampled this book even if I were not part of this program.
This seems like a cute book, and the illustrations are fun, but I will not buy this book. It doesn’t grab me enough to add it to my library. The dog is really big, and I’m more of a cat (or small dog) person.
This is a minor thing, but the first sentence in the book on page 5 has a comma splice: “Come meet our dog, he’s really quite super.” I was not going to mention it because the comma could have been used as a delimiter for the verse, but on page 7, a semicolon is used properly in the same situation: “He isn’t embarrassed; he isn’t ashamed.”
The featured OnlineBookClub review did not mention grammatical errors as an issue, so I have no suggestions for improvement. Neither the OBC review nor any Amazon rating had any bearing on my decision not to buy this book.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 7:24 pm by MsH2k.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mary WhiteFace
Without the first ten program, I would not have wanted to read a children's book about a dog. The book was 24 pages long, so I read the first 3 pages. They did not change my mind from my original decision.
The book was written as a rhyming poem which had a nice rhythm. The illustrations were bright and colorful and sure to capture the attention of young children. The part I liked best was: "He wasn't embarrassed; he wasn't ashamed. The words 'puppy' and 'dog' just shouldn't be named." It brought to mind a dog I had as a child that was treated more as a child than a dog.
The book seemed to be professionally edited. I have no suggestions for improvements. The OnlineBookClub review did not influence my decision. I will not be reading the whole book.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 7:15 pm by Mary WhiteFace.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Chelsy Scherba
This book is really cute. I don’t have kids and don’t have much cause to search for books like this outside of the program, but if I did, I would think my kids would like this book. The dog, Cooper, is really cute. I love the cover illustration of the parents being buried in their children because the dog is crowding the couch. The editing looks professional with no errors. The rhymes are nicely done. The review thought the book was too short and underdeveloped, but I don’t have any suggestions to improve the book beyond maybe padding it out like the reviewer suggested.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 5:50 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Laura Ungureanu
The cover looks nice, but I would've liked it better if the background was colored. I find that white makes it boring, especially for children, who seek colorful things. However, the idea of a dog being literally part of the family is brilliant and deserves a try. The OBC reviewer said that the book lacks creativity. I can't judge that based on the sample, but I think that a subject so vast as dogs could always be treated in a more creative manner. This book being for children might not require so much creativity though. I liked the rhymes and the idea, although I find the illustrations to be too old-fashioned. However, since this book is for children, I don't see myself reading it. I seek a more complex book, but I think this one is great for parents of kids who love animals. The editing seemed exceptional.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 3:58 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Diana Lowery
I thought the title was cute. I love the name Cooper for a dog. The cover depicted just how it is possible for a dog to take over the whole home. The blurb was short. The reviewer mentioned that there were no errors, but I found one in the first sentence. There should be a semi-colon between the two independent clauses: "Come meet our dog [,] he's really quite super." I liked the illustrations. I think the author should have explained more about how and why the dog went to Europe. I did finish reading the book.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 3:08 pm by Diana Lowery.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kirsi Cultrera
With such an adorable cover, this book was sure to catch my attention. I keep an eye on good children’s books all the time because of my kids. Therefore, I presume I would’ve checked this one out even if it wasn’t for this program. The illustrations were adorable, and I liked the idea of the story. A dog who thinks he is human will be appealing to every child who loves animals. I did not find anything from this book that I would've liked done otherwise. As far as I can say, this book had been edited professionally. After a few moments of searching, I was able to find the Official OnlineBookClub review, and reading it confirmed what I was thinking. Even though adorable, I will not be buying this book. For my older child, this book is already too easy and therefore not interesting. The younger one is just too young. However, I believe this is a perfect read for the matching age group.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 2:45 pm by Kirsi Cultrera.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Theresa Moffitt
I would not have picked this book up based on the cover alone because it is obviously a children’s book. I don’t have young children, so I have no need for this book. However, I believe children with young children would have picked this book up based on the cover alone. The title is cute and tells readers what the story is about. The cover art is colorful and would hold the attention of a child. The first ten pages told an adorable story about a dog who doesn’t know he’s a dog. He won’t come when you whistle or do tricks. I think children would love this book. The illustrations on every page are entertaining. I didn’t see any errors in the first ten pages, so I believe the book was professionally edited. I also didn’t see any area that the author could improve upon. The Online Book Club review of this book was very positive and gave the book a perfect score. I didn’t read an additional customer review. I won’t finish reading this book because I am not in the intended audience. However, it would be perfect for young children.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 2:04 pm by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AntonelaMaria
If I haven't read the sample through this program, I wouldn't have read it otherwise. It is the genre that doesn't work for me. I don't have children, so children's books are not my cup of tea. I like the illustrations and the premise of this book. It is a great idea behind this book with a dog who doesn't like to be referenced as such. I think it can be a teachable book for younger children. My favorite part is the fact that Cooper is a rescue dog. The Offical Onlinebookclub review is informative and helpful. I didn't notice any grammatical errors in the sample. I wouldn't change anything about the book.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 1:34 pm by AntonelaMaria.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sarah_Khan
The title of this book is cute and the cover leaves me nostalgic. I would not have picked this up without the First Ten program because it is a children's book and I do not have any children. This book seems well edited. I liked that the book rhymed and that the pages were numbered. Even as an adult, I found the idea of a dog thinking it is beneath him to play fetch quite funny. The illustrations are cute and colorful. The OBC review was mostly positive. The reviewer took away one star for the short length and the lack of originality. I think most books for kids are short, so I still feel like parents would enjoy reading this to their kids. Personally, I will pass on reading the rest because I am not a part of the intended audience. I do not have any suggestions for the author.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 1:03 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'Please Don't Tell Cooper that He's a Dog' is written by Michelle Lander Feinberg. The book revolves around Cooper. Cooper does not consider himself as a dog. He thinks that chasing things and doing things are beneath him. I like the colorful illustrations. I did not find any errors. The book is professionally edited. The book could be a bit longer so that we could get more engaged in the story. This aspect could be improved. The title and cover are cute. The OBC review and the Amazon reviews are appreciative. I have already read the book as it is pretty short.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 1:00 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Brenda Creech
The title and cover of this book were eyecatching for me. I would have checked this book out without a review because I love seeing how today's books compare to when my kids were growing up. After reading the official review, I wondered what the reviewer meant by "not too creative." I believe the storyline is unique and has a great message for young children about being kind. I did not see any errors in the part I read, and I didn't find anything I thought needed improvement. I think the illustrations are colorful and well done. I have no young ones to share the book with, so I won't be reading the rest of it.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 12:14 pm by Brenda Creech.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mvictoria
After reading the online book club reviews, I was sure I wouldn’t like this book. The reviewer noted it lacked “creativity” and only rated it three stars. I liked the rhyming scheme in the book, as I’ve found that helps children learn and is also very difficult for an author. I also loved the illustrations, and I thought they fit nicely with the text. I don’t normally read children’s books, and I don’t think I’ll be reading this book. I didn’t find any errors in the text, but I feel like the premise lacks creativity or novelty, in agreement with the online book club reviewer. I also think the pictures show Cooper acting very much like a dog by rolling over and playing with children on his belly. Also the cover shows him lounging on the couch and I would think if he thought he was human, he’d be sitting up. Overall, I will not read this book.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 11:30 am by Mvictoria.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
PeterRabitt20
I would read this book based on the title and cover illustration; without reading the sample. The title sounds hilarious, and the cover illustration is appealing. After trying the sample, I am sure to get this book. It was a relief that the illustrations were not computer-generated. They were my favorite aspect of the book. The sample seemed to be professionally edited. However, the sentence that starts, "Please don't whistle or ask him ...," needs a comma after the word "Please." I do not this book needs any improvement. The OBC review was candid and wonderful to read.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 11:28 am by PeterRabitt20.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Iva Stoyanova
If I wasn't part of this program I wouldn't have chosen to sample or read this book. The main reason I wouldn't read it is because it's a children's book, and I don't normally read books of this genre. The cover and the title, however, seemed intriguing. They both suggest that the story is probably about a dog who doesn't know he's an actual dog. Based on them, the story sounds quite fun and entertaining. The official review supported my guess. Overall, the book sounds like a fun read for young children and not for me. So, I will not buy and read this book. As I said, I don't normally read children's books or have someone to read them to. In addition, I didn't change my mind after sampling the book. In fact, the sample was too short which didn't give me anything else to review on. I am only able to give my opinion on the overall presentation of this book, and that is its cover, title, and genre. There wasn't even one page of text from the book in the sample, so I am not able to decide if the book is professionally edited or not. I liked the title of the book. It catches the reader's attention, and it definitely makes the book sound fun. I am sure many young kids will enjoy it and will find it very entertaining. I don't have suggestions for improvement.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 11:10 am by Iva Stoyanova.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
I love the cover of the book, and the blurb presents a unique plot. Of course, there are a lot of children's books concerning animals, but I had never read a proposal like this. The great ratings seem to be well-earned, and the only reason I wouldn't have bought the book is that I don't have kids.
I read the whole book and loved it. The watercolor illustrations are adorable, and the story is both funny and endearing. My favorite part is when Cooper "Hitched a ride to the airport and flew off to Spain. After touring museums, he boarded the train. Ate croissants in Paris, shopped in Milan. Cooper started to realize how long he'd been gone." My favorite illustration is when Cooper is seated on a sofa reading like a human. I think kids will find all of this funny, and it sends an important message of bonding with animals. This is seen, for example, when the author mentions Cooper has "five human siblings". I also like the little jokes that only adults will get, such as Cooper making the downward dog yoga position. I didn't find editing mistakes, and I don't think the book needs improvement. The official review didn't change my mind, because it can't possibly change my life situation, but I will keep the title in mind for when my nieces start to read.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 10:42 am by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Emy Katherine
I am not a big fan of children's books, so I would not have read the book without this program. Neither the OBC review nor the sample changed my mind. Actually, speaking of the sample, I was disappointed that it only consisted of the cover and the dedication page. I cannot say if the book was professionally edited, but I thoroughly liked the well-illustrated, colorful cover. The title was also captivating, and the Amazon blurb was descriptive and intriguing. The story follows a brave, loyal dog named Cooper, who acts like a human after being adopted by a lovely family. Based on the OBC review, it is well worth the read. Considering the book also has great Amazon ratings, it will appeal to those who enjoy reading children's books that teach kids to love and respect animals. All things considered, I would only suggest the author include at least two or three pages in the sample to motivate the reader to buy the book.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 10:25 am by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Bertha Jackson
I would not have checked out this book because of the book cover, title, blurb, customer reviews, editorial reviews, or OnlineBookClub review because I have no small children in my family. In reading the first ten pages, I enjoyed the illustrations that go along with the book cover. I also liked that Cooper reminds me of my yellow lab, who prefers my bed over her dog bed. The only thing I would suggest to improve the book would be for the author to provide a little more text to the illustrations. I did not see any errors and believe this book has been edited by a professional.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 9:55 am by Bertha Jackson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Scerakor
After reviewing the title, genre, cover, blurb, and review of this book, I would not have read this book. Although it sounds like a fun story for children, neither I nor my children are the intended demographic for this book. After reading the first ten pages I didn't change my mind and therefore will not be buying and reading the rest of this book. I liked the simple and rhyming text that was present throughout the sample that I read. The language was appropriate for the intended ages and the rhyming phrases like "he thinks it's beneath him to chase balls and sticks" put a smile on my face. That being said, neither myself nor my family are the targeted demographic for a children's book like this, therefore I'm not interested in reading the rest of this one. Although the book looked well written and edited, there was one thing I would have improved from the sample I read. I understand that the illustrations are for a children's book, but the sizes seemed disproportional and awkward at times. Page six is an excellent example of this where the ball, flowers, dog, and children all seemed weirdly proportioned with respect to each other. This, however, is extremely minor. There was an official OBC review, and although it was very praising of the book, it did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 9:39 am by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Timothy Rucinski
Since there are no little ones in my life right now, I won't be purchasing this book. But I must agree with the Official Reviewer that the illustrations are lovely but the story is quite limited. There isn't anything that I truly disliked about the book other than the genre, one that just doesn't have a place in my life right now. The illustrations make the book as they are the best part of and what I liked the most. If I were in the market for a kiddie book and saw this cover on a bookshelf in a store, I would most definitely have picked it up for a glance. The books appears to be professionally edited as I saw no errors.
First Ten review added on February 8, 2021, at 9:05 am by Timothy Rucinski.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 35%
Please Don't Tell Cooper He's A Dog earned a score of 35%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 35% plan to read the whole book.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable.
Over a million books are published each year. Any given person could not even read .0001% of the books out there. This means readers have to be very selective. Even taking the time to look over reviews and blurbs, let alone read samples, is more time than most readers can afford for most books. The First Ten is a powerful focus group that addresses those issues. It creates a helpful tool for authors, publishers, and other readers.
Go to main Bookshelves page for Please Don't Tell Cooper He's A Dog
