Dog Breath! The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis
By Dav Pilkey
The Story
A beloved family dog named Hally Tosis has breath so terrible her family wants to give her away, so the kids try every trick they can think of to fix her putrid panting before it's too late.
Why It's Special
For the kid who thinks bathroom humor is the funniest thing on earth, this one leans all the way in — and still lands on love.
- Big idea: Loving someone means loving their flaws too, even the smelly ones.
- Vibes: Silly, gross-out, laugh-out-loud, warmhearted underneath the stink
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy gross-out humor and bathroom jokes
- like to cackle at read-alouds
- are working on loving family members flaws and all
- respond well to silly problem-solving stories
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What are some of the things the kids try to get rid of Hally's bad breath?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Hally's family felt when they thought about giving her away?
- Real-life connection: Has a pet or person you love ever had something about them that was hard to deal with?
- Imagination: If you had to invent a wild plan to fix Hally's stinky breath, what would you try?
- Humor: What was the funniest part of Hally's stinky story to you?
