"George's mother said: 'Bark, George.' George went: 'Meow.' 'No, George,' said George's mother. 'Cats go meow. Dogs go arf. Now, bark, George.' George went: 'Quack-quack.'"
Every time the floppy-eared brown dog tries to bark, he meows, quacks, oinks, or moos instead. George's mother, a matronly olive drab-colored dog sporting a red bandana around her neck, grows increasingly exasperated, gritting her teeth and even holding her head with her paw. George just can't seem to get it right. She takes him to the vet, who says, as he dons a plastic glove, "I'll soon get to the bottom of this." When George meows, the vet reaches deep down inside of George and pulls out . . . a big gray cat. In sequence, the vet pulls out a duck, pig, and finally a cow from deep, deep down inside George. That cures him. Or does it?
"George's mother said: 'Bark, George.' George went: 'Meow.' 'No, George,' said George's mother. 'Cats go meow. Dogs go arf. Now, bark, George.' George went: 'Quack-quack.'"
Every time the floppy-eared brown dog tries to bark, he meows, quacks, oinks, or moos instead. George's mother, a matronly olive drab-colored dog sporting a red bandana around her neck, grows increasingly exasperated, gritting her teeth and even holding her head with her paw. George just can't seem to get it right. She takes him to the vet, who says, as he dons a plastic glove, "I'll soon get to the bottom of this." When George meows, the vet reaches deep down inside of George and pulls out . . . a big gray cat. In sequence, the vet pulls out a duck, pig, and finally a cow from deep, deep down inside George. That cures him. Or does it?
It wasn't until I read this story aloud to a class of kindergartners that I realized I was holding in my hand that rarest of creatures: a Perfect Picture Book. I had read the book to myself, of course, noting at the time that it was veteran cartoonist Feiffer's first picture book, and thought it was cute, kind of goofy, but no big deal. Then I read it aloud and the sun rose and the children laughed and gasped and cheered. They didn't just love this book-they LOVED this book. They made all of the animal noises. This simple story fulfills the mandate of a great book: it should Surprise, Startle, and Satisfy. Which proves, once again, that if you really want to evaluate a children's book, you must try it out on the people for whom the book is intended: actual children. Sometimes you select a book because it appeals to you and you read it aloud and the kids just sit there and stare at you. Politely, usually, because they're always happy when you read to them, but without any obvious elation. Remember-we grownups are old. If you want to know if a children's book really works, you need to read it to someone young.
Need an excuse to read it to older kids who think they're too sophisticated for picture books? Tell them you're reading the book so you can better explain story structure-beginnings, rising action, climax, falling action, and boffo surprise endings. Then the big kids will love it, too, though they may roll their eyes. Younger children need no excuses. They can't wait to act out the entire swallowing-story-in-reverse in creative drama, with lots of meowing, quacking, oinking, and mooing. Don't forget to ask your kids what they think happened at the end. (Ask them: Why do you think George said "Hello"?) You will hear some interesting opinions on that.
