McDuff's New Friend: McDuff's New Friends - Hardcover

Wells, Rosemary

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786823372 ISBN 13: 9780786823376

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion, 1999

Synopsis

On Christmas Eve, McDuff's persistent "woofing" begins to annoy Fred and Lucy, but it leads to the rescue of Santa, whose sleigh has gotten stuck in the snow.

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews:

Out trots McDuff (McDuff Moves In, 1997, etc.), this time to wait for Santa on Christmas Eve, in a story that subverts the cozy domesticity that has been a series hallmark in the name of a less-interesting fantasy. Fred, Lucy, and their baby are w aiting with their West Highland terrier, McDuff, for the arrival of Santa Claus. A blizzard swirls outside, worrying them all. After they have all retired for the night, McDuff repeatedly hears noises, and wishes to investigate. For each foray, Fred has t o dig a passageway through the snow. Trying Fred's patience, McDuff insists on yet another exploratory walk, and they find Santa all tangled up in the garage, looking for a snow shovel so he can dig his sleigh out of a snowdrift. He is untangled and taken into the kitchen, where Lucy has soup and sandwiches ready. The gifts he gives before dashing away include a kitten for McDuff. The illustrations, with their 1950s sensibility, are warm and eye-catching, right down to a molded Jell-o salad Lucy has prepa red; that kind of realistic touch doesn't fit with the image of a full-blown Santa, right there in the kitchen. (Picture book. 4-9) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 2?The lovable West Highland white terrier makes a holiday appearance. On Christmas Eve, McDuff's owners anxiously scan the snowy sky looking for Santa Claus. Unable to spot him, Lucy and Fred go about their evening business, feeding the baby and walking McDuff. Eventually, they succumb to sleep while a blizzard rages. The dog hears several noises and each time, Fred gets bundled up and digs a snow tunnel so the little pup can go outside and explore. After two false alarms, McDuff strikes out on his own and finds Santa in the garage and the sleigh in a snowdrift. Unfortunately, the story, like Santa and his sleigh, has trouble getting off the ground. The plot is slight, with limited tension or development. The strong point of this collaboration is Jeffers's outstanding, full-color artwork. For hard-core McDuff fans only.?MMH
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0786823372
• ISBN 13: 9780786823376
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 24