Synopsis
Ben and Ellie have a new teacher. But wait a minute – the new teacher is a dog named Riff! With Riff in charge, reading, writing, and arithmetic are abandoned in favor of lessons in barking, scratching, and digging holes – and Ben, Ellie, and their friends couldn’t be happier. Then Mrs. Pink, the principal, comes to check on the class. What will she think of their dog day?
High-energy text and bright, graphic illustrations will make readers want to join the fun in this school-day romp.
Publishers Weekly
Somewhere between Alexandra Day's Carl books and all-out wish-fulfillment, this cheerful comedy from the U.K. begins in a straightforward manner: "Here is Ben.... Here is Ben's classroom." Equally upbeat cartoons show a boy saying "Hi!" and a kindergarten or preschool room, with a wall in the background enlivened by photo-collage art. With a turn of the page, though, the surprises begin: "Here is Ben's new teacher. Wait a minute... Ben's new teacher is a dog!" A brown-and-white terrier sits on a chair, the words "Woof! Woof!" issuing from a dialogue balloon. Ben and his classmates woof back, and spend the rest of the day copying the dog's movements (wagging their bottoms, digging, fetching, etc.). A moment of tension arises when Mrs. Pink, the principal, shows up looking "cross," but she can't resist the canine's charms any more than readers will-she joins in the action, just as kids will want to. Broadway, Hayes's (Nine Ducks Nine) daughter-in-law, uses digital techniques to sneak a variety of realistic textures (woodgrain flooring, gingham fabric) into her sleek cartoons, adding lots of visual interest to a simple conceit. Ages 3-6. (Aug.)
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