Ho Ho Humph

It's hard to believe six days have passed since December 25, 2016.  It will be another three hundred fifty-eight days until the next Christmas celebration.  Surely the time will pass quickly with months, days, and hours filled with the expected and unexpected.  While you are waiting for this holiday to approach there is a title you need to consider reading.

We can all agree laughter is truly an antidote to many things, not all but most. When the jolliest elf of all is in a grumpy slump something needs to be done.  The Day Santa Stopped Believing In Harold (Tundra Books, a division of Random House of Canada Limited, October 11, 2016) with words by Maureen Fergus (Buddy and Earl, Buddy and Earl Go Exploring) and art by Cale Atkinson (To The Sea and Explorers Of The Wild) is the ticket to hilarity.  There is a ton of trouble at the top of the world.

One stormy night close to Christmas, Santa and Mrs. Claus were sitting in their cozy little log cabin at the North Pole.  

Instead of going over the line-up of reindeer on his team, Santa was sad and sulking.  Mrs. Claus repeatedly asked Santa what was wrong before he finally admitted the truth.  He no longer believed the boy named Harold existed.  He believed Harold's parents were trying to trick him into thinking the child was actually real.

To say Mrs. Claus was shocked was an understatement.  Santa began his list of reasons noting the letter to him appeared to have been written by Harold's mom.  He then went on to point out the late night snack for him.  Santa was certain Harold's dad had left it for him.  As he grew more adamant, Mrs. Claus made a very valid point.

When the news of Santa's quandary swept through the toy departments, the elves were stunned.  Merpin, the Elf Supervisor in the Computer Gizmo Department was no help whatsoever.  Santa set off to seek the counsel of his reindeer.

As Santa laid out the facts of the matter, his team listened in silence.  Finally Donner stated the obvious.  There had to be proof.  At this point the story switched to Harold's home where a similar situation was unfolding.  Harold had a plan.  Santa had a plan.  Neither one of them planned on the results.


As soon as you read the words

Santa was supposed to be going over the roster for this year's sleigh team.
Instead, he was moping.

you know something is amiss. Santa simply does not mope but Maureen Fergus has a knack for bringing a humorous new viewpoint to what we believe to be true.  It's this comedic contrast which propels the story through all its surprises.  With careful, honest and insightful conversations we gain perspective on the issue at the North Pole and in Harold's home.  Here is another passage.

"Stop!" interrupted Santa in a choked voice.  "Don't say another word.  You don't need to keep pretending on my account because...because...I don't believe in Harold anymore."
Mrs. Claus stared at Santa as though he'd suddenly sprouted antlers.


The grouchy looking Santa carrying and wearing signs on the matching dust jacket and book case is uproariously funny.  His BIG round body and tiny feet and hands plus the look on his face are sure to cause bouts of laughter.  On the back, to the left, we get the rear view of the same image.  On the back of the sign it says

I WANT TO BELIEVE

Cale Atkinson rendered the artwork

in Santa's Workshop with Photoshop.

The opening and closing endpapers in a matte-finished paper are identical to the pattern on Santa's shirt under his red coat.  It's a lively print in reds and greens with stripes, diagonals, snowmen, hearts, stars, dots and squares.  Much of the background canvas is a faint stripe pattern like wallpaper.  Prior to the title and verso pages, we see Santa's cat playing Scrabble with Harold's turtle.  Foreshadowing.  The dedication and title page information is placed inside Christmas tree ornaments.

Atkinson alternates between double-page pictures, single page images or a group on two pages to show the passage of time.  His details are marvelous; a bucket of coal next to Santa's fireplace, Mrs. Claus wearing reindeer slippers, Santa drinking hot chocolate from a cup with a Santa-hat-wearing narwhal on it, and Mrs. Claus's skirt covered in holly outlines.  The facial expressions on all the characters' faces are absolutely spot-on.

One of my many favorite illustrations is Harold in his bedroom.  On the background canvas in blue on blue is a series of miniature robots.  His bed is covered in a purple spread with a purple pillow.  On the floor are several Santa Claus books and a picture of Santa's face surrounded by question marks.  On the wall are a bunch of clues connected by string.  Harold, minus a front tooth, is reading a copy of Santa Enquirer.  His turtle is next to him, smiling.


Be sure to get a copy of The Day Santa Stopped Believing In Harold words by Maureen Fergus and pictures by Cale Atkinson to add to your Christmas collection.  Readers young and young at heart are going to get lots of chuckles out of this story.  It's good to know even Santa can have doubts.  It makes him all the more believable.

To learn more about Maureen Fergus and Cale Atkinson and their other work please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  Cale Atkinson also maintains Tumblr pages.  You can get a glimpse inside the book at the publisher's website.

When They Were Sleeping

In between dogs in my life, decades ago, I was asked and agreed to watch over a chocolate Labrador puppy when his humans were out of town.  He was a little over a year old and, as you can imagine, full of energy.  We went on several long walks every single day in addition to lunch time strolls before I headed back to school in the afternoon.  His appetite was voracious...for everything.

Coming home from work one day, I was surprised to see what appeared to be white suds all over the kitchen were the puppy was residing.  He had decided to snack on the bean bag chair his humans had left for him.  The stuffing must have been downright delicious as evidenced by our next several outings.  Within the next twenty-four hours some fluke of fate caused flooding in our basement.  A hose was extended from the basement, along the edge of the kitchen wall, and outside the back door to drain the water.  In short order the basement was not the only thing flooded.  Perhaps our canine friend thought the hose was some new kind of sausage.

To him this temporary state of residence seems to have been some kind of restaurant in which he needed to pass culinary judgment.  In a companion to Buddy and Earl, released in August 2015, author Maureen Fergus and illustrator Carey Sookocheff have collaborated to give us Buddy and Earl go exploring (Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press, March 15, 2016).  These two best buds, like my puppy pal, see life through an entirely different lens than their humans.  This is what elevates the laughter factor through the proverbial roof.

The day had been long and full of adventures.  Buddy was looking forward to a good night's sleep.

Buddy's humans, Meredith, Michael, Mom and Dad are getting ready for bed.  Earl is tucked inside his new home above Buddy's pile of blankets as the household settles into slumber.  As Buddy is starting to head to dreamland, Earl whispers a goodnight and asks him for a bon voyage wish.

Snapped out of his snooze, Buddy questions Earl about the meaning of bon voyage.  As they converse about Earl's spontaneous desire for travel, Buddy becomes worried but he nevertheless bravely calls out a fond farewell.  Earl hops up on the wheel in his cage and starts running like a sprinter for parts unknown.  It goes around and around and around and around and around.

When Earl stops he is amazed to see surroundings which seem familiar.  When Buddy whispers the truth, Earl nearly faints to think Buddy could keep up with him as he traveled.  (I have to stop a moment because I am laughing so much, I can't type.)  Earl declares as long as they are here, they should

explore quietly.

As Earl warns of an ogre, discovers a beautiful lake next to a towering mountain, snacks on gourmet goodness and urges Buddy to save a damsel in distress from a monster, we are humorously aware of the truth as is Buddy, only he is not laughing.  He has found another hideous beast.  As our heroes find their way back to bed, a final wordless image foretells of another episode destined to the archives of hilarity thanks to this unpredictable, creative twosome.


The timing and word choices written by Maureen Fergus have fashioned one of my absolute favorite comedy teams in children's literature.  The conversational exchanges between the dog, Buddy, and Earl, the hedgehog, are a hilarious contrast between the truth and a perceived reality.  The blend between these chats and the straight narrative are superb.  Here is a sample passage.

After a long time, he stopped and looked around.
"This place looks eerily similar to the place I just left," whispered Earl. (page turn)
"Maybe that is because it is the place you just left," whispered Buddy.
When he heard Buddy's voice, Earl was so startled that he jumped and made a funny popping sound. ...


The matching dust jacket and book case in purple, black, white, brown and tan with a simple design and layout is the ideal opening for the narrative.  Clearly Earl is the leader of this adventure but Buddy, looking back, is not quite certain where they are going.  And why is he carrying a purse?

To the left, on the back, Buddy is shown in a square image framed in the purple background.  His nose is to the ground sniffing a trail of unknown objects. A complimentary color of pale yellow covers the opening and closing endpapers. Buddy with Earl on his back appear before the title page and verso.  There is a clue, in a small illustration, of things to come on the verso.

Carey Sookocheff renders her illustrations in this title

using acrylic gouache on watercolor paper and assembled in Photoshop

giving a clean look to each one adding shades of blue and gray to her original palette as shown on the jacket and case.  She alters between a small image surrounded by white, a full page, edge to edge, and double page pictures.  Her perspectives draw the reader right into the action of the story.  Her representations of Earl's perceptions definitely heighten the fun.

One of my many favorite illustrations is when Earl salutes Buddy as he gets ready for his trip.  He is standing outside his home with the wires and wheel in the background.  Buddy is looking downcast, concerned with where his friend is going and when he will return.  He does not know at this time what we know.  Sookocheff brings us close to the two characters' faces.


Buddy and Earl go exploring written by Maureen Fergus with pictures by Carey Sookocheff will endear readers to these characters, their lives and adventures as much as, if not more than, the first title.  Read this book aloud for a maximum laughter factor.  I guarantee you will have your audience rolling on the floor in laughter.  You might want to have a dog and hedgehog puppet ready for a little reader's theater.

To learn more about Maureen Fergus and Carey Sookocheff and their other work please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  By following this link to the publisher's website you can view interior images.  Maureen Fergus chats on the podcast, Storybook Spotlight, about Buddy and Earl.

For Love Of A Dog #13

In the summer of 2014 a study was released, confirming what humans chosen by canines already know, regarding the emotions experienced by dogs, It's Not Your Imagination---Your Dog Gets Jealous.  It is my belief after years of experience they not only exhibit an array of emotions but they have a sense of imagination.  This can be seen in the way they play and go about their doggy day.

Xena channeled her inner otter when she swam, skimming and gliding, for hours at a time.  Within a heartbeat she became a giant of the sea, a whale.  When she was in pursuit of a rock, sometimes bigger than my fist, she not only dove deep but it was incredible to see how long she would hold her breath. (I started timing her out of curiosity. One time she passed forty-five seconds on her way to fifty.  I was heading out to bring her up.)

For readers of these tribute blog posts, you know she had the strength of an ox.  How else could she pull me down a snowy road on cross-country skis?  One minute she was walking along in front of me, the next minute she was tugging me along as if to say, "Your pace is too slow, Mom!"  In the face of danger she became the leader of our pack of two; changing into a wolf to protect us.

She scrambled up steep grassy hills, tall sand dunes and rocky inclines like a goat.  She also tended to eat almost everything as goats are apt to do.  Her hearing rivaled that of a bat.  To try to open a cupboard, refrigerator door, her dog food container or treat bag without her hearing was impossible, even when she was sound asleep.

Elephants are said to have the best sense of smell but I think Xena would have won in a challenge.  A neighbor couple would take care of her if I was going to be late coming home.  After she fell in love with them (and they with her) she could smell when they were outside.  Their home was across the street from ours, kitty-corner and two houses down.  If they were in their back yard, out of sight, she still knew they were there.

She ran like a jaguar for the sheer fun of it or in giving chase with a canine friend.  No Frisbee was safe if she was near, jumping in the air like a kangaroo.  She was a blanket, a pillow, a foot-warmer and most of all an angel watching over me for all of her life.

The imaginative nature of dogs is often exhibited in their curiosity and in their need to discover, regardless of the outcome.  Buddy and Earl (Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press, August 11, 2015) written by Maureen Fergus with pictures by Carey Sookocheff follows Buddy on an adventure full of surprises.  A gray day turns into what promises to be years of sunshine.

It was a rainy afternoon.  Buddy was feeling bored and a little lonely.

This feeling of boredom and loneliness is about to change.  One of his humans, Meredith, walks into the living room telling him to remain right where he is as she places a box on the floor. She leaves intending to return in a minute or two.

Buddy simply can't resist this temptation.  Peering into the box he sees the weirdest thing he's ever encountered.  Licking it is a bad idea.  It starts to make noise and move.  This is going to be fun!

After verbal introductions Buddy asks Earl exactly what he is.  Earl's reply of

I'm a race car

does not match Buddy's observations.  Three more improbable answers continue the exchange until Earl suddenly wants to know what Buddy is.  Rather than listening to what Buddy might say, Earl immediately starts guessing.  A huge inanimate object, a large jungle animal, and a tiny mammal are his first three suggestions.


Earl reveals he is only teasing but with complete candor states they must be the same.  With that announcement of their dual identity the shenanigans commence.  Totally enthralled by the excitement of this game Buddy romps on the furniture following Earl's lead.  Mom is not happy by Buddy's antics when she enters the room.  Earl speaks. Buddy hears.  A new status for the twosome is born.  It's simply the best.


Maureen Fergus uses word combinations and character contrasts to entice readers and maintain our interest.  With the words

mysterious box 

and

"Stay, Buddy!"

she initially elevates our anticipation.  We hope Buddy will not stay.  We feel like cheering at his curiosity.  As the back-and-forth banter between Buddy and Earl starts and progresses the comedy builds until Earl's revelation.  Their play will have you wishing you could join them.  (You'll have to stop laughing first.)  The contrast of Mom's dialogue and Earl's voice (which Mom can't hear) to Buddy at their discovery adds a new dimension to the story bringing us along for the wonderful conclusion.  Here is a sample passage.

"You're right," said Earl. "I'm not a race car, I'm a giraffe."
Buddy thought about this.
Then he said, "I am pretty sure that giraffes have long graceful necks, Earl.  As far as I can tell, you have no neck at all."


At first glance the matching dust jacket and book case let you know this book is going to be spirited.  The motion marks for Buddy's tail and Earl's hedgehog body tell their own story.  To the left, on the back, Buddy is enjoying a peek inside the box, contents currently unknown.  Both the opening and closing endpapers are in a pale blue-gray hue.  With a page turn we see Buddy on his bed watching Earl stroll off the page.

A limited color palette, gray, blue, pale golden yellow, orange and brown, pairs perfectly with the narrative.  Rendered in

 Acryl Gouache on watercolor paper and assembled in Photoshop

the illustrations by Carey Sookocheff give readers a superb connection to the characters.  Some of the images are full page, others are smaller and grouped by twos and for full emotional impact they span two pages.  The background colors shift in excellent unison with the rise and fall of the story line.

The layout of the elements in each picture and the perspective are superb.  One of my favorite illustrations is when Earl is on top of the sofa as their imagined adventure begins.  Buddy with Earl's box on his head is a willing participant as he leaps up to join the hedgehog.  It's interesting to note how the shape of the box changes as their play advances.


Buddy and Earl by Maureen Fergus with pictures by Carey Sookocheff is an outstanding story on the gift of imagination and friendship.  Exceptional pacing will completely engage readers from beginning to end.   This joyful dedication speaks volumes:

For the real Buddy, because he is the best dog ever, and for the real Earl, even though he prickles me.---MF

Readers will hardly be able to wait for Buddy and Earl Go Exploring and Buddy and Earl and the Great Big Baby.

Please follow the links attached to Maureen Fergus' and Carey Sookocheff's names to access their websites.  You can learn more about them and their other work.  At the publisher's website you can view three more interior pages.