McDuff goes to school / Rosemary Wells ; pictures by Susan Jeffers.

The determined, bright, adorable West Highland terrier is back as he welcomes new neighbours and a new language. McDuff's strong-willed nature places him in obedience school, where he has the potential to earn a blue ribbon at graduation. While the dog finds his family too busy to practice, he listens attentively to the routines of his Scottie friend Marie-Antoinette and her French owners; to his family's surprise he has learned the commands in another language. A short illustrated glossary and pronunciation guide to the obedience commands are included.

Reviews (5)

School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-The determined, bright, and adorable West Highland terrier is back as he welcomes new neighbors and a new language. McDuff's strong-willed nature places him in obedience school, where he has the potential to earn a blue ribbon at graduation. While the dog finds his family too busy to practice, he listens attentively to the routines of his Scottie friend Marie-Antoinette and her French owners; to his family's surprise, he has learned the commands in another language. The French phrases may prove difficult for the pup's youngest fans, but the endearing illustrations of canine faces and exuberant paws in action transcend any additional need for explanation. Jeffers's art perfectly complements Wells's simple text and captures an earlier era, seemingly the '30s, with perspectives that emphasize the dogs that play an important role in their owners' lives. A short illustrated glossary and pronunciation guide to the obedience commands are included.-Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

The wiley Westie returns in McDuff's Wild Romp by Rosemary Wells, illus. by Susan Jeffers, in which he heads off to Aunt Frieda's with the baby, and winds up besting the woman's cat for the baby's Turkey Tidbits and wreaking havoc in the process. Joining this square paper-over-board format are reissues of McDuff Goes to School (0-7868-5676-9), McDuff Moves In (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Horn Book Review

(Preschool, Primary) In this tame fifth installment to the series, the peppy Westie gets a lesson in obedience and language from the new French neighbors and their well-behaved Scottish terrier, Marie-Antoinette. When Celeste de Gaulle says, ""@ bas!"" Marie gets down; she stays put when Celeste commands, ""Reste-l`!"" McDuff, on the other hand, isn't quite as civilized, so Lucy and Fred send him to obedience school. Celeste and Marie sign up as well. Busy Lucy and Fred never seem to find time to practice commands with their dog, but the neighbors practice faithfully-with McDuff watching (and listening) carefully. On graduation day, Marie wins a blue ribbon, while poor McDuff, who ignores the down, stay, and come commands, is diagnosed with ""D.A.I., Dog Attention-itis."" McDuff just needs the proper approach, however: when Celeste calls, ""Viens!"" McDuff comes; he sits perfectly at ""Assieds-toi!"" (A French/English glossary is provided at the story's end.) The lighthearted story doesn't hold many surprises but ends on a companionable note. McDuff is comfortably his old expressive self, especially in Jeffers's unadorned illustrations, many of which provide a terrier's-eye-view. McDuff buffs and Francophiles will welcome this bilingual comedy of manners. k.f. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

Kirkus Review

A doggy celebration of bilingualism starring everybody's favorite Westie. In this fifth series outing from Wells and Jeffers (McDuff's New Friend, 1998, etc.), McDuff is intrigued by his new neighbor, Marie the Scottie, but Fred and Lucy, his owners, display a certain narrow-mindedness toward the new human arrivals: "They're speaking in a foreign language. . . . They're going to have to learn English." But when McDuff fails to jump down off the de Gaulles' couch on demand, Fred and Lucy enroll him in dog school. Celeste and Marie enroll too, and practice faithfully every day; Fred and Lucy are too busy to practice with McDuff. Soon Celeste has a bored McDuff running through the basic commands perfectly along with Marie-in French, so on the last day of class, McDuff humiliates Fred and Lucy by not responding to their English commands. Celeste puts him through his paces in French to win a red ribbon, and the two families celebrate with "a grand French picnic." Wells injects a warm humor into this brief story (Marie barks in French: "Ouf!"") that, despite a real rise in the level of complexity over previous McDuff books, delivers its message directly and without preachiness. Jeffers's illustrations infuse her canine subjects with enormous personality (a wistful McDuff peers through the fence as Marie earns yet another liver truffle), and her sunny retro world retains its charm from the earlier books. An illustrated glossary of French commands, including pronunciation guides, follows the story. McDuff's fans are well served by this offering. Ouf! (Picture book. 3-6)

Booklist Review

Ages 2-5. The powerhouse team of Wells and Jeffers reunite for their fifth McDuff collaboration, packing plenty of sweetness and humor into a simple dog story. Jeffers's illustrations catch the look of a 1940s English village that suits the comfortable feel of the tale. Terrier McDuff meets his new neighbor, a French terrier named Marie Antoinette, who responds "Ouf" to McDuff's "Woof." After McDuff acts up at the new neighbors' house, he's sent to obedience school, and Marie Antoinette goes along. Children will be so engaged by the dogs' antics that they'll hardly notice the many French words they'sre picking up. A glossary of French terms is appended. --Connie Fletcher

Available:*

Bound With These Titles

On Order