The Trouble With Mister - Hardcover

Keller, Debra

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0811803589 ISBN 13: 9780811803588

Publisher: Chronicle Books Llc, 1995

Synopsis

Since his parents refuse to get a dog, Alex decides to draw his own dog, a big purple one with bright yellow socks, and when this dog magically comes to life, Alex learns lessons about life and friendship.

About this title

From Publishers Weekly

Hints of the Calvin and Hobbes formula crop up in this story, a debut for both author and illustrator. Alex, the protagonist, has a purple dog named Mister. But Mister is no stuffed animal?he's a painting that Alex makes when his parents won't get him a real pet ("Alex folded Mister over and over until he was pocket size. In school, Mister lay in Alex's backpack. On the playground, Mister snuggled in Alex's jacket"). Late one night, Mister turns 3D, and he and Alex happily romp through the house. But Mister disappears by morning and Alex takes the blame for the mess; in a semi-satisfying resolution, Mister returns via envelope. McNeill works in vibrant complementary hues, pairing an orange hat and turquoise sky, Mister's purple fur and yellow socks, and Alex's lime-tinted pajamas and red blanket. Her spreads are artfully composed, with splotchy watercolors and gouaches and distorted cartoon figures, but her single-page illustrations appear cramped and awkward. The text, too, lacks polish?why does Mister disappear? It's an uneven effort, not delivering on its full potential. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Any child who wishes, begs, or aches for a pet will fall in love with Mister, a dog with "long purple hair" and "...bright yellow socks on all four paws." A young boy creates him with paint and paper after his pleas for a dog are rejected. Mister is perfect because he can go everywhere with Alex and sleep carefully folded under his pillow-until the night he comes to life. Their romp around the house is rather destructive, and Mister runs away to avoid more trouble. His owner misses him terribly, however, and a kind lady returns him folded in a brown envelope. Bright, bold watercolor and gouache illustrations splash across double-page spreads full of delightful details. McNeill's work is reminiscent of some of the cartoon illustrations in Harlan Quist publications, but has a friendly freshness all its own. The text is carefully crafted with an obvious love of the well-turned phrase and reads well aloud or alone. A treat for the eye, the ear, the imagination, and the heart.
Jody McCoy, Casady School, Oklahoma City
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Chronicle Books Llc
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0811803589
• ISBN 13: 9780811803588
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: McNeill Shannon