Poor Emma is a pup with a problem. Her human, George, constantly misunderstands her. No matter how hard she tries to please him, it's just "Bad! Bad! Bad!" all day long. Tired of feeling unappreciated, Emma finally writes to "Dear Queenie," who, like any good canine advice columnist, suggests that Emma get off the couch and make herself useful--perhaps even find a career. Before she knows it, Emma is a successful stage actor with a traveling theater company, and her troubles at home are far behind her. There's just one problem . . . she can't stop thinking about George!
The way Emma solves her dilemma and eventually works things out with George is sure to delight readers. Drawn in an accessible comic-book style, and inspired by Eileen Christelow's real-life dog, here is an absolutely hilarious take on unconditional love and the importance of finding one's true calling.
Feeling misunderstood and unappreciated by her owner, Emma the dog asks for advice from the local canine advice columnist.Eileen Christelow has created numerous fun and funny picture books, including the Five Little Monkeys series, Author, and most recently, Letters from a Desperate Dog. She and her husband, Ahren, live in Vermont. For more information visit www.christelow.com.
Echoes of Mark Teague's Dear Mrs. LaRue resonate in this story of an unappreciated dog who corresponds with a canine advice columnist. "My human is driving me nuts!" thinks Emma, a brown-and-white mutt belonging to a moody artist, George. Stung by George's accusations that she is a bad dog, Emma emails the "Ask Queenie" column at the Weekly Bone , and Queenie writes back, using language usually applied to four-footed types: "Is George a high-strung breed? They can be difficult to live with!... Have you tried licking his hand?" Alas, Emma's well-meaning efforts to placate George's anger go unnoticed due to her klutziness. Christelow (The Great Pig Search ) combines conventional expository text, watercolor-and-ink comics panels and hand-drawn voice-bubble dialogue in a manner familiar to readers of Susan Meddaugh's Martha books. Like Martha, Christelow's Emma is eager to please, but George proves difficult to like. "If you don't shape up, I'll take you back to the dog pound!" he yells, banishing poor Emma to the yard. Ultimately, when Emma auditions for a theater company and leaves George without an explanation, Christelow loses control of the plot. The convoluted conclusionâ€"Emma runs away, though not on purpose, and gets George to admit his loveâ€"suggests that temperamental family members are not easily taught new tricks. Ages 6-9. (Oct.)
[Page 61]. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
PreS-K Emma, a Beagle-like mutt, feels that she is sorely unappreciated and misunderstood by her owner, George, who yells at her for sleeping on the sofa, barking to communicate with the dog next door, and getting into the garbage. The demoralized Emma goes to the library to e-mail the canine advice columnist who writes Ask Queenie for the Weekly Bone . Several electronic exchanges result in several suggestions, but George continues to find fault. Queenie then advises getting a job, and Emma auditions for an actor's role that requires lying on the couch something she knows she's good at. Before she can think, she's whisked out of town with the traveling theater troupe. While she becomes a big star, she can't help but wonder whether or not her owner misses her. When they are reunited, George's joy is evident until Emma manages to lock him out of his truck and chews on his hat. But absence has made the heart grow fonder, and they've now agreed to put up with one another. Children will find humor in Emma's trip to the library to use the computer, identify with her on those days when she can't seem to do anything right, and experience relief that George loves her no matter what. Colorful, action-filled cartoon art, often featuring several panels per page, accompanies the brief text. Nancy Silverrod, San Francisco Public Library
[Page 86]. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
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