Jack the Happy Dog

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the title—*Jack the Happy Dog* sounds like a thousand other kids’ books—but within two minutes, Soo Porter’s narration had me snorting into my coffee. Her Jack isn’t just *happy*; he’s a deranged, tail-wagging force of nature, and Porter leans into it with the kind of commitment that makes you forget you’re listening to an audiobook. The jokes are *dumb* in the best way: “Why did the dog sit in the shade? Because he didn’t want to be a *hot dog*!” My five-year-old nephew howled. My *teenage niece* rolled her eyes but still repeated one to her friends. That’s the magic here—it’s low-stakes enough for a preschooler but sneaky-smart enough to amuse older siblings (or exhausted parents). The pacing is where this audiobook shines. Stories zip by in 3-5 minutes, jokes punctuate like firecrackers, and the whole thing clocks in under an hour—perfect for a single sitting or doling out in chunks. My one critique? Some sound effects feel a beat too loud, jarring against Porter’s otherwise smooth delivery. And while the humor is relentless, a *few* jokes land with a thud (a “ruff” puns section overstays its welcome). But these are quibbles. For its target audience—kids who’d rather giggle than sit still—this is a home run. Just don’t blame me when your kid starts demanding “the dog book” on repeat.