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Synopsis
Dudley the dog has quite an imagination. This is fine when he is with his lovely owner, Daphne. But when he is alone, Dudley's imagination runs wild, and he gets anxious — and Dudley turns into Scaredy Dog. When he and Daphne come face-to-face with Attila, the mean, crazy dog from next door, what will happen?
Children's Literature
This early reader starts out using the simplest sentence structures and concepts, but builds its use of longer sentences, more complicated words, dialogue, and plot throughout. Sweet Dudley the dog and his girl Daphne are a winning combination, but Dudley is imbued with many human characteristics, even including speech and inner thought processes. This anthropomorphism can rankle adults, but it might not bother young children, who will identify with Dudley's musings about the things he is afraid of but trying to be brave about. Dudley's epiphany to strive to be a brave and heroic dog seems flimsily inspired, but the antics that ensue as he tries to prove his mettle are amusing if a bit predictable. Many dog owners, old and young alike, will see their pet in Dudley's well-intentioned but comically errant behavior. Just when Dudley despairs that he truly is a scaredy dog, the deus ex machina of rain forces Dudley and Daphne into a confrontation with the dreaded neighborhood dog, Attila. Dudley does triumph in the end in a classic David and Goliath standoff, but his newfound, surprising bravery is wisely tempered with the notion that there are still some things he is afraid of. Some of the vocabulary will be challenging for younger readers, but the plotline and lovable dog should keep them moving.