Barkus
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- £5.99
Publisher Description
Newbery Medal-Winning Author: "A refreshing take on the beloved family pet tale . . . A strong chapter book option for early readers [with] charming characters." —School Library Journal (starred review)
Meet Barkus. Barkus is loyal. Barkus is generous. Barkus is family.
The exuberant dog named Barkus and his lucky young owner whirl and twirl across the pages of this first book in the delightful series from award-winning author Patricia MacLachlan. The accessible text is ideal for even the newest independent reader, while the warm, humorous story and energetic illustrations will appeal to picture book readers as well.
Praise for the Barkus series
"The charm is infectious." —The New York Times
"Will appeal to fans of the Henry and Mudge series as well as to the younger picture-book audience." —Kirkus Reviews
"Fans will be begging for more."—The Horn Book
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Forget about every dog having its day: floppy-eared Barkus owns the entire calendar in this upbeat collection of five stories that bridges picture book and chapter book terrain. Barkus is the "smartest dog in the whole world," according to globetrotting Uncle Everton, who gives Barkus to his niece Nicky. "Does he bark?" asks Nicky's father. "Only when he wants to," replies Uncle Everton. But smarts alone don't explain Barkus's charisma. He follows Nicky to school and, instead of getting the boot, becomes the class dog ("Maybe he will help us all learn to read," says the teacher, after Barkus barks approvingly at the word "dog"). After Barkus decides he doesn't want a "quiet little party" for his birthday, the neighborhood dogs show up and raise the roof, and when Barkus finds a kitten, he gets to both keep and name it. Boutavant (Edmond, the Moonlit Party) contributes cheery, brightly colored cartooning with a 1960s-minimalist aesthetic, but what's truly beguiling is MacLachlan's (The Poet's Dog) benevolent worldview, which suggests that anything's possible if you are clever, reasonably well behaved, and fun to be around. Ages 6 9.
