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Cone Dog
A pesky cone becomes a doggie dream come true in this canine companion to Cone Cat One day, Emma the dog leaves the vet with a giant plastic lampshade on her head. It cuts off her corners, dulls her digging, and makes Garson the greyhound gawk. One thing is clear―the cone is not good, and the only thing left to do is sulk. When Emma’s human tries to cheer her up with a game of fetch, Emma discovers that the cone miraculously catches every ball she fumbles! Emma realizes the cone has other surprising advantages too, from serving as a helmet during her hallway hurtles to helping her dig at triple-speed. Best of all, the cone plays a pivotal role in Emma’s master plan to scare off the sneaky neighborhood squirrel, Keith. Eventually, the cone comes off and Emma is free, but the important lesson she learned from her cone days cone or no cone, it’s Emma’s inventive spirit that make her the Best. Dog. Ever. This fresh and funny follow-up to Cone Cat is a charming ode to ingenuity and making the best out of a ruff situation.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 23, 2023
39 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Howden
31Ìýbooks5ÌýfollowersSarah Howden is a children's book author and editor best known for her 5-Minute Stories for Fearless Girls collection. She lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 10, 2023
This book made me chuckle because I have had three dogs who all have had to wear "the cone of shame" at some point. But they never made the best of it as this dog did! Oh teasing the squirrel was FABULOUS! What dog does not want to do that?!
I received an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2023
Every bit as delightful as Cone Cat.
June 3, 2023
This is such a humorous book. Emma the dog has to go to the vet and when she returns she has what they call a giant plastic lampshade on her head. Well that lampshade caused all kinds of problems. It wouldn't come off no matter what Emma tried. The cone was not good. He really got in her way as she tried to go about life. She couldn't dig. The other dogs laughed. So Emma sulked. So Emma's human got her to go outside and they played catch. Emma caught the ball in the cone. Soon the cone was full of balls. This might not be so bad after all. Emma used the cone for a shovel and she could really dig then. But there was still one problem, Keith the squirrel. He threw crab apples at her and laughed. Then it started to snow. And she got an idea. She let the snow fill up her cone. Then here comes Keith......You will have to read to find out what she did to Keith. It wasn't long until Emma got the cone off and life was back to normal again.
September 18, 2023
When Emma the dog leaves the vet’s office with a giant plastic lampshade around her neck, all she wants to do is sulk. She can’t run around freely, or dig, and other dogs stare at her. However, after playing fetch with her owner one day, Emma realizes she can use the cone to her advantage to play and pull a prank on a sneaky squirrel.
I loved the book Cone Cat in 2020, so I was excited to read Cone Dog! Anyone who has had a pet who wore the “cone of shame� knows what a struggle it is for their animal to wear it. It’s for their own good, so they don’t hurt themselves, but they can’t go about their daily lives in the same way. Emma, the dog in this story, figured out how to use the cone to her advantage. This is a great way to teach children that something you think is a bad situation can be turned around into a positive one.
Cone Dog is an adorable picture book!
Thank you Owlkids Publishing for providing a digital copy of this book.
I loved the book Cone Cat in 2020, so I was excited to read Cone Dog! Anyone who has had a pet who wore the “cone of shame� knows what a struggle it is for their animal to wear it. It’s for their own good, so they don’t hurt themselves, but they can’t go about their daily lives in the same way. Emma, the dog in this story, figured out how to use the cone to her advantage. This is a great way to teach children that something you think is a bad situation can be turned around into a positive one.
Cone Dog is an adorable picture book!
Thank you Owlkids Publishing for providing a digital copy of this book.
February 25, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of the book to review.
As a parent and dog owner, I found this book perfect for explaining to our kids why our pets must wear a cone. In my professional role as a Librarian, it is also nice to have books in the stacks that help kids understand things that could be scary otherwise. The book is humorous, well illustrated, and told in a way that kids will understand.
Emma the dog has to go to the vet and when she returns she has what they call a giant plastic lampshade on her head. That lampshade ends up causing a host of problems for poor Emma. It wouldn't come off no matter what Emma tried. She couldn't dig. The other dogs laughed. Emma's human takes her outside to play catch, and Emma catches the ball in the cone! Soon the cone was full of balls and Emma realized the cone may not be so bad after all. The story continues, showing Emma's journey from the time the cone is placed on her and the time it is taken off.
As a parent and dog owner, I found this book perfect for explaining to our kids why our pets must wear a cone. In my professional role as a Librarian, it is also nice to have books in the stacks that help kids understand things that could be scary otherwise. The book is humorous, well illustrated, and told in a way that kids will understand.
Emma the dog has to go to the vet and when she returns she has what they call a giant plastic lampshade on her head. That lampshade ends up causing a host of problems for poor Emma. It wouldn't come off no matter what Emma tried. She couldn't dig. The other dogs laughed. Emma's human takes her outside to play catch, and Emma catches the ball in the cone! Soon the cone was full of balls and Emma realized the cone may not be so bad after all. The story continues, showing Emma's journey from the time the cone is placed on her and the time it is taken off.
June 29, 2023
As the book opens we meet Emma coming out of the Vet's office. Relief turns to confusion as she realizes her head is stuck in something around her neck. There are soft and beautiful illustrations that are filled with emotion and humor, that will be very popular with the child on your lap as well as a room full of families at Storytime. Emma goes through several stages of grief, trying valiantly to get it off and being angry about having to wear this cone, until she reaches acceptance - and then moves beyond when she realizes the positive differences it makes in her day to day activities, including besting her arch nemesis, Keith the squirrel. There are laugh-out-loud moments as well as opportunities to engage with a Storytime audience.
August 29, 2023
What a totally creative concept for a kids book! A dog with a cone on its head... finds a way to have fun AND solve her squirrel problem.
A totally silly story told from the dog's perspective, all about her bad, bad cone. We enjoyed her antics, but the story really took off when the mischievous squirrel Keith enters the scene! (We have a backyard FULL of squirrels, so the squirrel problem really made this story for us).
We also enjoyed how the dog Emma is such a little troublemaker- it's always fun to read about pets who get into trouble!
Great for pet-lovers, dog lovers, and squirrel lovers too. Haha!
A totally silly story told from the dog's perspective, all about her bad, bad cone. We enjoyed her antics, but the story really took off when the mischievous squirrel Keith enters the scene! (We have a backyard FULL of squirrels, so the squirrel problem really made this story for us).
We also enjoyed how the dog Emma is such a little troublemaker- it's always fun to read about pets who get into trouble!
Great for pet-lovers, dog lovers, and squirrel lovers too. Haha!
August 26, 2023
I received an electronic ARC from Owlkids Books through NetGalley.
Poor Emma ends up with a cone after a visit to the vet. After a rough beginning, she discovers how much she can do with it - even use it against her nemesis, Keith the squirrel. Young readers will appreciate the humor in the wording and the illustrations as they follow Emma's adventures. The ending fits well with the rest of the story.
Howden spins more fun in this book to go with Cone Cat. The story is easy to follow and offers readers a chance to feel what Emma is feeling.
Poor Emma ends up with a cone after a visit to the vet. After a rough beginning, she discovers how much she can do with it - even use it against her nemesis, Keith the squirrel. Young readers will appreciate the humor in the wording and the illustrations as they follow Emma's adventures. The ending fits well with the rest of the story.
Howden spins more fun in this book to go with Cone Cat. The story is easy to follow and offers readers a chance to feel what Emma is feeling.
July 28, 2023
A cute reframe of a frustrating situation! Who hasn't had a cast or boot or cone that gets in the way of everyday? Emma the dog (who is prone to making everyday a memorable mess) can't do her normal destruction with this thing on her neck. Until she realizes that, with a little imagination, it can actually do everything she wants better that she ever could have anticipated. A tale about how some thinking can help navigate challenges in a very cute and funny way.
August 25, 2023
A short, cute picture book for little kids about a dog that has to wear a cone after a visit to the vet. She's a bit of a mischievous dog, so it's a fun read for the little's. The illustrations are cute & they compliment the story/text. I'd definitely share this with my little ones!
I received an e-ARC of the book from publisher Owlkid Books via NetGalley for review purposes. This is my own fair/honest review.
I received an e-ARC of the book from publisher Owlkid Books via NetGalley for review purposes. This is my own fair/honest review.
September 12, 2023
Emma's not too happy when she leaves the vet's office with a plastic cone around her head. Gone are her happy-go-lucky indulgences in all the fun things that doggies do . . . until she discovers a way to turn this hindrance into an asset.
The author really captures the spirit of a young, playful dog in this fun tale that's a treat for dog lovers of all ages.
ARC provided by NetGalley and Owlkids Books.
The author really captures the spirit of a young, playful dog in this fun tale that's a treat for dog lovers of all ages.
ARC provided by NetGalley and Owlkids Books.
September 17, 2023
This book is a adorable. Great use of end pages to start the story. This lighthearted story of a dog and adapting to his cone wanted to make me turn the page to see what he did next. I loved how the dog tries to see the positives in being in the cone and how many items he has been stuck in before. Great story about looking at the positive side of a situation.
May 31, 2023
This is a cute story about Emma the dog, who is a bit of a troublemaker but determined to make the most out of her cone. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this title!
3.5/4, rounded up
3.5/4, rounded up
August 1, 2023
This book is a fun read. Emma, the dog, learns to accept a cone she got from the vet that she initially does not like. Her owner shows her one benefit of her cone, and she starts to find new ways her cone is useful. It's a good lesson in learning to make the best of a temporary situation.
August 16, 2023
Very cute and silly children’s book. Wonderful illustrations and funny story. Readers will want to read the others in the series. Not text heavy and will have wide appeal smoking young readers/children. A great edition to any children’s book collection.
August 18, 2023
I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.
September 11, 2023
In this canine companion to Cone Cat, apesky cone becomes a doggie's dream come true.
January 1, 2024
The only thing is, I don’t know why Emma had a cone, or to be exact, an e-collar in the first place!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2025
Very human names for animals.
March 6, 2025
“I liked that it was a story about a doggy. My favorite part was when she got free so fast. I liked when she filled her cone up with balls!� - Luke
September 5, 2023
I loved the author's book, "Cone Cat," so I was excited to read her latest, "Cone Dog." Being a dog person I really enjoyed Emma's adventures. A clever story with adorable illustrations. I'm just wondering what Sarah Howden can put a cone on next.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
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