John Burningham
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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> Picture Books
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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> General AAS
Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5
Average rating: 4.0 of 5
PEDIGREED POOCHES WATCH OUT - MONGRELS RULE OK. 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 4 people found this review helpful.
.This is a very English book. What is it about the Brits and their obsession with pedigreed pooches? The parents of the little boy and girl who are looking to get a dog tell them " Make sure it's a proper dog. One with a pedigree".
Courtney is the least popular dog at the Dog's Home. Perversely, it was the children's' choice.
The parents reaction was "What on earth have you got there" .... He's a mongrel"
Courtney turns out to be a real wonder-dog. He was a top chef, who could entertain the family with his violin playing and juggling, and in his spare time could do the house work and save baby from a house fire.
Is there some sort of class-consciousness here? Courtney is a great servant to the family, but he is very poorly bred and no doubt, poorly rewarded. There is no meritocracy in Courtney's world. When this marvellous dog decides to leave the family, all Dad could say, "If they are not thoroughbreds you cannot rely on them."
The climax of the book is the great sea rescue, where the children are pulled to shore in their runaway rubber boat by some mysterious force.
"I wonder what it could have been", is the lingering last line of the book. We all know who it was. After all the insults from Dad, it was the last favour old Courtney was going to give that family.
Another strange book from John Burningham. It is illogical and confused. Ill considered messages are his trademark.
His illustrations are ink drawings, colored with blunt crayons and crudely applied watercolors. This naive style when done well can be effective. In this case, the ink lines are hesitantly staccato, tracing still visible lead pencil sketching. Not a good look. Not a good book.
Editorial Review:
Courtney is the dog that nobody wants, but the children think he's lovely. When they take him home, their parents are very disappointed—he's just an old mongrel. But Courtney turns out to be a wonder-dog who can cook, juggle, and even play the violin.
