Help Me, Mr. Mutt!: Expert Answers for Dogs with People Problems - Hardcover

Crummel, Susan Stevens

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0152046283 ISBN 13: 9780152046286

Publisher: Clarion Books, 2008

Synopsis

Responding to disgruntled dogs nationwide, Mr. Mutt, Canine Counselor, has solutions to the most sticky dilemmas. But Mr. Mutt has his own problem to solve: the cat (aka The Queen), who has her own idea of who’s in charge. Now Mr. Mutt is the one who needs help--quick!

Through letters and newspaper clippings--and with plenty of their trademark humor--Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel give voice to despairing dogs everywhere.

What kind of advice will Mr. Mutt give, and will The Queen let him get away with it?

• Dog and Cat Rivalry: Mr. Mutt is the expert, but The Queen (a very bossy cat) has the final word in a hilarious battle for household supremacy.
• Silly Animal Antics: Find out the best way to get more food, stop wearing silly costumes, and reclaim the big bed from your people.
• Pet’s Point of View: A laugh-out-loud look at what dogs and cats are really thinking about their owners.
• A Unique Story Format: Told entirely through letters, newspaper clippings, and sassy handwritten notes, this book is perfect for visual learners and early readers.

About this title

About the Authors

Susan Stevens Crummel has collaborated with Janet Stevens, her sister, on several picture books, including The Little Red Pen; The Great Fuzz Frenzy; Texas Bluebonnet winners Cook-a-Doodle-Doo! and Help Me, Mr. Mutt!; and the Texas Bluebonnet nominee And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon. A former teacher, she now writes children's books and makes author appearances at schools full-time. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas. Visit her online at susanscrummel.com.

Janet Stevens is the author and illustrator of many beloved picture books, including Tops & Bottoms, a Caldecott Honor Book. With her sister and coauthor, Susan Stevens Crummel, she created the acclaimed bestsellers The Great Fuzz Frenzy; Help Me, Mr. Mutt!; The Little Red Pen; and more. She is also the illustrator of the Epossumondas books, written by renowned storyteller Coleen Salley. Janet Stevens lives in Colorado. Visit her online at janetstevensbooks.com.

Reviews

Grade 2–4—With tongue firmly in cheek, the dynamic Stevens sisters have crafted a multilayered story that looks at various situations in the life of an average dog. Through a series of letters to Mr. Mutt, a doggie version of Dear Abby, the text invites readers to learn about the tribulations of "Underplayed in Utah" or "Famished in Florida" and the encouragement they garner from their correspondences. Each letter has its own distinctive style depending on the complaint and the writer's personality but all end with a postscript that refers to the treatment or behavior of cats in the household. Mr. Mutt ends each reply with his own postscript that refers to the cat that shares his home. Here, the book rises to another level of humor with the inclusion of additional commentary from "The Queen," the supremely superior feline who keeps Mr. Mutt in his place. The tension between them builds throughout the letters until a physical confrontation occurs near the end of the story. Mr. Mutt's replies to the dogs in distress include many sketches of "illustrated tips" as well as a variety of graphs to substantiate the advice. While the story will find fans in the primary grades, its most appreciative audience will be among more sophisticated readers who will recognize the amount of effort that went into this creative venture. It's a great read just for fun, and teachers will find a wealth of ways to incorporate it into lessons on letter writing, newspapers, and presenting information through graphs.—Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA
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Edition details

• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0152046283
• ISBN 13: 9780152046286
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Stevens Janet
• Number of pages: 56