Review by Booklist Review
Ages 4^-8. When measured against some of the glitzy picture books the year has produced, this one looks plain. There are no details to break up the flat colors used on the background. Even the characters are simply drawn, colored shapes determined by thick, black lines. But oh, the expression Feiffer manages to coax out of a few keen strokes. George's mother wants George the puppy to bark. When he meows instead, she scolds him: "No, George. Cats go meow. Dogs go arf." But George can't seem to get it right--first quacking, then oinking, and finally mooing, as his mother becomes increasing distraught. Eventually, it's off to the vet, who literally gets to the bottom of things when he pulls an amazing assortment of beasts out of unsuspecting George's open mouth. What happens next is a wonderful surprise. Feiffer's characters are unforgettable, the text is brief and easy to follow, and the pictures burst with the sort of broad physical comedy that a lot of children just love. It all makes for a witty, laugh-out-loud play on the old favorite about the old lady who swallowed a fly. --Stephanie Zvirin
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In just a few pen strokes and just a few words, Feiffer (I Lost My Bear) outlines the playful scenario of a puppy who cannot say "arf." The images are striking, with no background details or props but the unobtrusive text. In the initial spreads, a big dog and a little one face each other from opposite sides of the book: "George's mother said: `Bark, George.' George went: `Meow.' " As George proceeds to quack, oink and moo, his dismayed mother grimaces and puts her paw on her head in the classic gimme-a-break gesture. She takes her afflicted son to a veterinarian, who snaps on a rubber glove and decisively repeats the title command. This time, when the pup meows, "The vet reached deep down inside of George... And pulled out a cat." Feiffer reverses the old-lady-who-swallowed-a-fly plot and boosts the giddiness with every barnyard animal removed from tiny George. The pen-and-ink close-ups of the dogs and vet are studies in minimalism and eloquence, and the characters' body language registers intense effort and amazement. Rather than being black-on-white, the illustrations get a boost from cool pastel hues. This pairing of an ageless joke with a crisp contemporary look will initiate many an animated game of animal sounds. Ages 2-6. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-A lovable pup tries to bark, but all that comes out are other animals' sounds, until a cathartic trip to the vet unleashes the problem. A pack of fun, with droll illustrations and deadpan text. (Sept.) (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Based on Jules Feiffer's hilarious book (HarperCollins, 1999), this video tells the tale of a puppy, George, who has a speech problem. His mother is trying to teach him to bark, but instead he makes the sounds of different animals-a cat, a duck, a pig, a cow. This is very disconcerting for his mother (and a real knee-slapper for young viewers). The vet, however, solves the problem. He puts on a latex glove, reaches deep inside George's mouth, and pulls out all the offending animals! The problem is solved or is it? This delightfully absurd ALA Notable book has always been a winner with the very young. In this adaptation, Feiffer's bright and funny illustrations have been animated, and original background music has been added. John Lithgow supplies the narration, providing voices for George's mother and the vet, as well as George's animal sounds. Put it all together and you have a short video that will delight young audiences, and fit in nicely with animal or pet units.-Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
A mother dog frantic because her pup makes every animal noise, it seems, but the appropriate one (arf), seeks help from a vet. In a creepy yet funny move, Herr Doktor snaps on his rubber glove and extracts a cat, duck, pig, etc., from the youngster's mouth until he's cured--or is he? Agile, boldly outlined characters enact the sly drama on flat backgrounds done in Easter-candy colors. From HORN BOOK Spring 2000, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
