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Tree of Birds |
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| Author: |
Susan Meddaugh |
 Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0395531470 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 3-4 days. |
From Publishers Weekly
"Oh, Mom," says Harry, arriving home with a wounded bird in his arms. "Oh my!" responds his mother, in the sort of understatement found--in words and pictures--throughout this delightful book. It is clear that Harry's broken-winged bird, whom he names Sally, is no ordinary sparrow or pigeon. She is, according to the boy's bird book, a Green Tufted Tropical, a species that cannot tolerate cold weather. This concerns Harry, as winter is on its way. But something else arrives first: an enormous flock of Green Tufted Tropicals, anxious to find Sally. Harry tries everything, but he can't get the persistent creatures to leave their perch in a tree outside his window. When the temperature drops and the first snowfall is forecast, the chattering birds turn blue, but Harry comes to their rescue in an unexpected way.... |
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The Witch's Walking Stick |
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| Author: |
Susan Meddaugh |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0618529489 |
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| Availability: |
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From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3–Poor Margaret lives with her mean older brother and sister in a cottage in the woods. Forced to cook and clean, she decides to run away. She meets an old woman who offers to pay her three gold coins if she can retrieve a star-topped walking stick from a dog that has run off with it. Unbeknownst to Margaret, the woman is really a mean-spirited witch who has used her walking stick to make a thousand miserable wishes that have wreaked magical mayhem throughout the forest. Meanwhile the dog, magic stick in mouth, is wishing for someone to throw it for him and–voila! along comes Margaret. With the ratty, drool-covered stick in hand, Margaret recognizes that it belongs to the old woman. As she wishes she knew why it could be worth gold, her wish is granted and she instantly knows that... |
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The Witches' Supermarket |
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| Author: |
Susan Meddaugh |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0395570344 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 3-4 days. |
From Publishers Weekly
In a highly original Halloween tale, Meddaugh ( Tree of Birds ; Too Many Monsters ) again evinces a gently humorous, delightfully skewed imagination. As Helen, in a witch costume, and her dog Martha, dressed as a cat ("Witches have cats, not dogs. Everybody knows that") set out for trick-or-treating, the woman ahead of them drops a piece of paper. Hurrying after her to return it--a coupon for a free broom--Helen and Martha hesitate when she disappears behind a door marked "Trespassers Will Be Sorry." Peeking inside, Helen announces, "It's just a supermarket!" and the pair ventures in. But this is no ordinary food store--its counters display such fare as"Apples with Worms," "Cran-Spider" drink and "Shake 'n Bake Snake." When the light finally dawns for Helen, readers, of course, will be way ahead of her--thanks... |
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The Hopeful Trout and Other Limericks |
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| Author: |
John Ciardi |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0395616166 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 2-3 days. |
From School Library Journal
Grade 3 - 6-- This collection of 41 limericks is a wonderful gift, perpetuating Ciardi's humor and sure verbal craftsmanship. Meddaugh's black-and-white line drawings perfectly underscore the fun in each offering. Whether using a traditional opening as in "Sometimes Even Parents Win" ("There was a young lady from Gloucester/ Who complained that her parents both bossed her") or exploring word sounds as in "The Fast Fiddler" ("There was a fast fiddler from Middletown/ Who fiddled hi-diddle-dee-diddle-down"), Ciardi remains in effortless control. The Hopeful Trout brims with life and teasing and giggles. --Kathleen Whalin, Public Library of Columbus and Franklin County, OhioCopyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Two Ways to Count to Ten: A Liberian Folktale |
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| Author: |
Ruby Dee |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0805013148 |
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Review
"King Leopard is wise enough to plan for a successor: 'I must seek out the cleverest beast in our jungle. I must find one who is wise enough to rule well.' He plans a contest; the winner is to be named a prince and marry his daughter. Contestants must throw Leopard's spear up in the air and count to ten before it comes to earth again...The story is a strong one and will be an effective read-aloud."--Booklist
"The noted actress retells this lively, well-paced, and involving version of a Liberian folktale. Meddaugh's color-pencil and water-color paintings suit the text well. Readers and listeners of all ages will find this an irresistibly satisfying tale."--Publishers Weekly
"A clever tale about the jungle beasts learning to count, showing once again that being strong is not the same as being... |
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Martha Walks The Dog |
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| Author: |
Susan Meddaugh |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0618380051 |
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| Availability: |
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From Publishers Weekly
In this fourth book of Meddaugh's Martha series, the mild-mannered pooch who derives the power of speech from alphabet soup takes herself for a stroll. When someone calls her a "good dog," she ingenuously replies, "What other kind of dog is there?" She soon has her answer when she meets Bob, a hulking, bearlike mutt who viciously barks at passers-by. Bob's bearded owner is "just as ferocious," berating his pet with the words, "Bad dog Bob! Bad dog!" She moves on to another neighbor's yard, where she teaches a parrot to call her a "good dog." Martha's big mouth gets her into trouble when she returns to lecture Bob, not realizing that he has broken free of his thick metal chain. Fortunately, he chases Martha into the parrot's yard, where the magic words?"good dog!"?save Martha from certain doom. As in previous... |
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Martha Speaks |
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| Author: |
Susan Meddaugh |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0395633133 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 2-3 days. |
From Publishers Weekly
With the arrival of Martha, Lassie had best look to her canine laurels. This scintillating story weighs the pros and cons of owning a loquacious pet. Thanks to the apparently magical properties of alphabet soup, unassuming mutt Martha is transformed into the Mr. Ed of the canine world. Unfortunately, the novelty for her human family wears off in a hurry: Martha blabs non-stop and commits numerous gaffes--telling one visitor, "Mom said that fruitcake you sent wasn't fit for a dog. But I thought it was delicious." Meddaugh's ( The Witches' Supermarket ; Tree of Birds ) quirky take on the anthropomorphic pooch proves uproarious. Droll illustrations capture Martha's guileless expressions, her joy at the mastery of speech and her hurt feelings after she's commanded to pipe down. The book may be difficult to read aloud... |
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Cinderella's Rat |
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| Author: |
Susan Meddaugh |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
061812540X |
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| Availability: |
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Book Review
Sometimes even the most ordinary rat can experience the extraordinary. "I was born a rat. I expected to be a rat all my days. But life is full of surprises." So begins Susan Meddaugh's wonderfully understated, comically illustrated Cinderella's Rat. Life is no picnic for a rat, the rodent narrator is quick to point out: "Cats are plentiful and food is scarce." Blinded by hunger, he and his sister Ruth fall into an obvious trap. Just when they are making their escape, the narrator rat is magically transformed into a coachboy. The next thing the rodent coachboy knows, a stern old woman is telling him to drive a girl to the castle in his pumpkin-like coach. Once at the castle, the coachboy, at heart still a rat, is drawn to the kitchen by the smell of food. The cook--spotting a good helper--instantly... |
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A Perfect Father's Day |
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| Author: |
Eve Bunting |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0395664160 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 2-3 days. |
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K-- Wide-eyed, curly-topped Susie offers to take Dad out to eat for "a perfect Father's Day" ("May I drive?," Dad asks), then to the duck pond ("You like to feed the ducks, don't you, Dad?"), then to the park ("Do you like the monkey bars?"). Clearly the perfect Father's Day requires the perfect father, and Susie's parent quite literally takes the cake. Meddaugh's balloon-colored cartoons are perfectly tuned to the spirit of the day. With more spontaneity than most made-to-order picture books, this is an engaging family portrait and a winning tribute to "Dad." --Marcia Hupp, Mamaroneck Public Library, NYCopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
Booklist, ALA : "It's Father's Day, and four-year-old Susie has planned a perfect outing with... |
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Martha Calling |
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| Author: |
Susan Meddaugh (Illustrator) |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0395827418 |
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| Availability: |
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From Publishers Weekly
The second book about Martha the talking dog is "unsurprising but amusing," said PW. "Kids are sure to be drawn in once again by Meddaugh's witty and unaffected cartooning." Ages 4-8. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-Martha, the loquacious pup introduced in Martha Speaks (Houghton, 1992), keeps up her nonstop chatter- this time on the telephone. When she answers a radio call-in contest question and wins a weekend for four at the Come-On-Inn, she's delighted-until she finds out that dogs are not allowed. Dressed as a grandmother and plunked in a wheelchair, she and her family set off for their holiday, and mayhem ensues as Martha, ever angry at the inn's exclusionary policy, cannot remain calm. The unadorned... |
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Tree of Birds |
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| Author: |
Susan Meddaugh |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0395689783 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 3-4 days. |
From Publishers Weekly
"Oh, Mom," says Harry, arriving home with a wounded bird in his arms. "Oh my!" responds his mother, in the sort of understatement found--in words and pictures--throughout this delightful book. It is clear that Harry's broken-winged bird, whom he names Sally, is no ordinary sparrow or pigeon. She is, according to the boy's bird book, a Green Tufted Tropical, a species that cannot tolerate cold weather. This concerns Harry, as winter is on its way. But something else arrives first: an enormous flock of Green Tufted Tropicals, anxious to find Sally. Harry tries everything, but he can't get the persistent creatures to leave their perch in a tree outside his window. When the temperature drops and the first snowfall is forecast, the chattering birds turn blue, but Harry comes to their rescue in an unexpected way.... |
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Martha Blah Blah |
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| Author: |
Susan Meddaugh |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0395901189 |
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| Availability: |
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From Publishers Weekly
While Meddaugh's Martha Calling essentially reprised the hilarious Martha Speaks, this third volume teaches the talking dog new tricks. And, without losing entertainment value, it puts corporate strategies and deceptive ads in perspective for young audiences?no mean feat. After reminding readers that Martha requires daily helpings of alphabet soup to be able to speak, Meddaugh introduces a dilemma. Granny's Soup Company has fired 13 letter-crafters to cut costs ("Why do we need all those letters? This is soup, not school!"), and the resulting broth includes only half the alphabet. Suddenly Martha begins speaking gibberish, and when she tries to use the phone or order burgers at a drive-through, humans regard her with amusement, not amazement. Shocked, the chatty canine realizes that she's about to become "just... |
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Martha Calling |
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| Author: |
Susan Meddaugh |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0395698251 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 2-3 days. |
From Publishers Weekly
As fans of Meddaugh's Martha Speaks know, this brainy canine-after chowing down on alphabet soup-can chatter away like any human. This sequel helpfully reiterates the soup secret ("The letters went up to [Martha's] brain instead of down to her stomach"), lets new readers in on Martha's ability to use the phone and introduces her Snoopy-esque peeve: "no dogs allowed" policies. Here Martha calls a radio quiz show and wins "a weekend for four at the cozy Come-On-Inn." There's one catch: the inn doesn't admit dogs. So Martha and her owners sneak in, and when the pooch is found out, she appeals to the guilt of pet-owning vacationers: "A lifetime of canine companionship and what do we get? A week in the K-word while you go off on a FAMILY vacation." Meddaugh sticks with her original formula in this unsurprising but... |
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In the Haunted House |
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| Author: |
Eve Bunting |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0395699428 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 3-4 days. |
From Publishers Weekly
Four sneakered feet, two large and two small, tiptoe through a house chock-full of otherworldly creatures--a vampire, ghosts and a mummy, among others--in Bunting's second Halloween excursion. Like her Scary, Scary Halloween (which was illustrated by Jan Brett), this book features comically creepy rhymes ("Who's in the closet, dark as a tomb / Rattling his bones in the gloom-gloomy-gloom?"), a small, built-in mystery (how can such a haunted house be real ?) and a cheery surprise at the end (the owner of the big feet has been more frightened by the weird goings-on than has his little partner). Meddaugh's illustrations strike a nice balance between scary and silly, and include lots of rewards for observant readers: parents and art-wise children may note a homage to Picasso on one page. All in all, this winning... |
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The Witches' Supermarket |
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| Author: |
Susan Meddaugh |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0395700922 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 3-4 days. |
From Publishers Weekly
In a highly original Halloween tale, Meddaugh ( Tree of Birds ; Too Many Monsters ) again evinces a gently humorous, delightfully skewed imagination. As Helen, in a witch costume, and her dog Martha, dressed as a cat ("Witches have cats, not dogs. Everybody knows that") set out for trick-or-treating, the woman ahead of them drops a piece of paper. Hurrying after her to return it--a coupon for a free broom--Helen and Martha hesitate when she disappears behind a door marked "Trespassers Will Be Sorry." Peeking inside, Helen announces, "It's just a supermarket!" and the pair ventures in. But this is no ordinary food store--its counters display such fare as"Apples with Worms," "Cran-Spider" drink and "Shake 'n Bake Snake." When the light finally dawns for Helen, readers, of course, will be way ahead of her--thanks... |
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Perfectly Martha |
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| Author: |
Susan Meddaugh |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
061837857X |
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| Availability: |
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From Booklist
PreS-Gr. 2. In her sixth adventure, Martha the talking dog becomes a crime stopper when she exposes a pair of scam artists. Martha is disturbed by the newly opened Perfect Pup Institute, which advertises "a perfect dog in one day." After one class, run by oily partners Otis Weaselgraft and Dr. Pablum, dogs become robotically obedient; they even stop chasing squirrels. Determined to uncover Weaselgraft's secret, Martha enters the institute, but Dr. Pablum overhears her speaking and dognaps her for study. While incarcerated, Martha learns the crooks' trick (the RoboRover Brain Stopper, a collar device that freezes all but the obedience lobe of a dog's brain) and manages to humiliate Weaselgraft as she reveals his plot to the public. The story's pace meanders a bit. But as in Martha's other stories, Meddaugh's expressive,... |
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Hog-Eye |
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| Author: |
Susan Meddaugh |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0395937469 |
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| Availability: |
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From Publishers Weekly
Asked to explain why she didn't go to school that day, a modern piglet spins a dramatic tale of how she met and outwitted a big, bad wolf; PW's starred review called the outing "a riotous caper." Ages 4-8. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3?Meddaugh presents a hilarious story within a story as a piglet tells her family how she was caught by a wolf and nearly made into soup. Seeing that her captor is illiterate (he thinks E-Z Car Care is his granny's cookbook and "reads" upside down), she reads him a recipe that sends him on a wild wolf chase to a booby-trapped vegetable garden, to Torrential Waterfalls for fresh water, and to the forest for "Green Threeleaf" (poison ivy). Just as he prepares to light the fire,... |
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Martha Speaks |
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| Author: |
Susan Meddaugh |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0395729521 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 2-3 days. |
From Publishers Weekly
With the arrival of Martha, Lassie had best look to her canine laurels. This scintillating story weighs the pros and cons of owning a loquacious pet. Thanks to the apparently magical properties of alphabet soup, unassuming mutt Martha is transformed into the Mr. Ed of the canine world. Unfortunately, the novelty for her human family wears off in a hurry: Martha blabs non-stop and commits numerous gaffes--telling one visitor, "Mom said that fruitcake you sent wasn't fit for a dog. But I thought it was delicious." Meddaugh's ( The Witches' Supermarket ; Tree of Birds ) quirky take on the anthropomorphic pooch proves uproarious. Droll illustrations capture Martha's guileless expressions, her joy at the mastery of speech and her hurt feelings after she's commanded to pipe down. The book may be difficult to read aloud... |
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