Surprise Doctor's Visits and Elizabethan Collars

Hi!

     You know, when Allison and Rachel took me to the doctor's on Tuesday, I wasn't expecting what happened next. In the car on the way, Allison told me that I was going to have an operation, but not to worry. She said that I would play with the pretty vet techs, fall asleep for awhile, and then wake up when it was time to go home.

     "This is part of growing up, Sam," Allison whispered into my ear, "Just like when I had to have my four wisdom teeth pulled out. You be a brave boy, okay?"

      Teeth pulled out? Ouch! I put my ears back at this, but quickly forgot to be afraid once I padded into the doctor's office. So many other dogs and people to say hi to!

      Next thing I know, I'm waking up still at the doctor's the next morning, and my bum feels a little ouchy. What was that? Strangest of all, when my humans came to take me home they put this stupid cone-shaped collar around my neck! I didn't like that one bit, and I still felt a little woozy, so I lay down the best I could and pouted.

Well how would you feel?

     I made sourpuss faces at Allison - and acted hangdog - until she curled up beside me with a new book. Pawing at my foolish collar, I looked up at her with my saddest eyes. 

     "Okay, my brave boy," Allison said. "I know you don't like it, but that collar you're wearing is called an 'Elizabethan collar.' It's named after a human queen from a long time ago who liked to wear collars like that."

     Arooo? I cocked my head, collar and all. A queen who likes weird cone collars? Humans don't usually wear collars, do they? 

     "Most humans don't wear them anymore," she continued, "but Elizabeth I was an interesting person."

     "Anyway, here's a book that will cheer you up! It's about a puppy who lives with another Queen Elizabeth, Elizabeth II. She's queen in England now, and she's related to the first Elizabeth. Come on! Listen!"

     Even though the book was over a hundred pages long, Allison read it aloud to me and Lizzie right then and there. It's called Titus Rules by Dick King-Smith:

Click me to read an interview with the British author!

Written by the author of Babe (which Allison and I have just started reading) and illustrated by John Eastwood, Titus Rules is a wonderful book for lovers of dogs, of British things, and of great stories of friendship and courage. Titus is the last pup of Queen Elizabeth II's corgi Prissy, and this tale tells all about Titus' adventures and how he becomes the queen's favorite pooch. This royal pup grows up to be a hero! By being brave and listening to both his mama and his own smarts, Titus saves the castle from a fire, averts a flood, and even stops a silly human from stealing the queen's sparkly jewelery! John Eastwood's simple pen and ink drawings throughout the book will give human-pups a better idea of the personalities of Titus and other members of the royal family. Also, grown-up humans will laugh at what Allison calls the "gentle satire" on the British royals. Best for human-pups ages 7-11, I give this book two paws up and a tail wag (all the more impressive when I'm doing so while wearing this heavy royal Elizabethan collar).

* A note from Allison: Although Sam and I adore this book (I spent 5 months in England myself and so love the Britishness of it!), some children may not care for or understand the British references and context. Stay tuned for a review of Babe, which American children may appreicate a degree more (especially since it has been made into a popular film).

And now? I'm off for a snooze. Growing up and acting royal take a lot out of a puppy! Ruff!

Yours in Silly Collars and Brave Deeds,

Sam I Am

 

A Little Night Music: In Praise of Chester Cricket

Hi!

     Allison and I couldn't write yesterday - we were too busy feeling wet. All because of some very silly weather! Out we went for our nightly walk, and when we were just past Peanut and Daisy's house, the raindrops started. And the drops kept going. And got bigger. And wetter. Until finally I found myself trotting beside Allison (my poor paws soaked by unavoidable puddles) as she guided us toward home through the pouring rain.

     Now, I didn't mind the thunder booms or the lightning flashes, but I definitely didn't like getting so wet! When I tried (several times) to dive into bushes to dry off (Home seemed so far for a little damp puppy like me!), Allison grinned and reminded me that we were in this adventure together. She was having fun, laughing as raindrops dripped from her hair and hopping through puddles like a gleeful duck. I got into the spirit and galloped faster - toward the warm towels and snuggles that waited for us at home. By the time we reached the porch, both me and my beloved human were dripping and trailing muddy pawprints.

     Home at last, I decided cuddling, doing my shake-the-water-off dance, and rubbing my wet snout on the carpet was more important than blogging. Hey, even a reading-eager pup like me needs a break!

    Today was better, thank dogness. Sure my humans and I got locked out of the house. But that meant we got to go see Suz at work. Also, in honor of my upcoming six month birthday, Allison and Rachel bought me a big brother for my squeaky Clifford doggy. 

See? Big Clifford and I get to know each other. He makes a funny urnk-urnk noise sometimes. Fun!!

     Except for scary vacuum roars, I like listening to different sounds. Thunder. Other pups barking. The fridge opening. The sweet sound of a Milkbone as it hits the kitchen floor. I especially like listening to my humans' voices - even when they sing along to the songs in the car! When I first came to live with Allison and her family, music was one of the only things that would make me feel better when I got too excited or upset. So this next book I'm recommending means a lot to me. 

 The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden, illustrated by Garth Williams, is a suspenseful yet hopeful tale of a cricket's adventures in the big city of New York. After accidentally stowing away in a picnic basket, Chester the cricket gets stranded in a subway station beneath Times Square. Quickly befriended by a mouse, a cat, and a boy named Mario Bellini, Chester soon realizes that his chirping is music to others' ears. When Chester decides he wants to help Mario's family save their newsstand, it is the cricket's music that draws lots of humans to the Bellinis' storefront. Chester becomes a famous musical performer! Woof!

With dark, detailed line illustrations that bring life to already loveable characters, this book is a wonderful read! At times funny and other times sad, human-pups will not want to stop reading. What will happen to Chester and the Bellinis? they'll wonder. This story also shows the power of friendship and the importance of using your talents to help others. (After all, I use my top-notch chasing talents to keep the pests away from my humans' garden - everyone can help each other out!) Two paws and a happy tail wag for this one, best for human-pups ages 9-12.   

Maybe someday I'll get to go to Times Square in New York. I bet they have lots of terrific sounds - not to mention smells and sights and people to lick! Anyway, now I'm off to snuggle Big Clifford some more and listen to the night sounds coming from outside. A special good-night to all the crickets out there!

Yours in music and dreams,

Sam I Am

Camera-raderie and Grimm Tales: Detectives are Special and You are Too!

Hi!

     We haven't blogged for a few days because Allison did a very silly thing and stepped on a bumblebee. I hadn't known that those cheeky, buzzing things were called bumblebees; I only knew that every time I got close to snapping one up, my humans would start howling, "NO SAM! NO NO NO! DON'T EAT IT OR IT WILL STING YOUR MOUTH!" Sting? How was I to know what a sting is? Mostly I kept growling and pouncing at the buzzing things anyway, and Allison kept scolding me in that panicky voice. Until two days ago, when my beloved human forgot to hop over a bee herself while watching me. I guess these bee-things have pointy spikes on their bums...and they really hurt if you step on one.

     I don't think I've ever heard Allison make such a strange noise. Yowling in pain, she limped - with me in tow - back into the yard to find Rachel. My poor Allison has been hopping around with an expression of OUCH ever since. She even took a kind of medicine called Benadryl to help her stop scratching. But all it did was make her verrrry sleeeepy. 

    Of course, in between naps Allison has made sure that we keep reading! The following two mystery stories (which are both part of their own series) kept us busy while Allison's foot got less itchy-scratchy-ouchy. The first features a little human girl-pup who finds a lost puppy, and in the second a pair of scrappy sisters solve a fairy tale mystery: 

Click me for more about the series and its author.

       In Cam Jansen and the Barking Treasure Mystery by David Adler, illustrated by Susanna Natti, human-pup Cam, her mama, and some friends take a boat tour and end up in the middle of a mystery! A woman sneaks her puppy onboard in her purse even though dogs aren't allowed on the boat - and soon Little Treasure (the pup's name, which I think is SO silly!) is GONE. Aroooooooooo! Dognapped! 

The minute Allison read the part about Little Treasure being dognapped, I started to get nervous. Where did Little Treasure go? Who would take a pup? What if I ever get dognapped?! 

Calmly, Allison rubbed my tummy and reassured me that even if I were ever dognapped, my humans would find a way to get me back. 

"Besides," she said, "That woman brought her dog where she wasn't supposed to, and then she didn't pay attention - or put her pup on a leash! We wouldn't do that!" She smiled. "And you just watch. Cam Jansen is very special; she'll find the pup, don't worry." 

I settled down, comforted. Panting a little, I sat back on my haunches to listen to the rest of the story.  

Once Little Treasure vanishes, Cam leaps into action as fast as a bloodhound. This human-pup has a very special talent: she has a photographic memory. Allison says this means she can remember things in pictures - just like a camera! So Cam and her friend use what Cam remembers to find Little Treasure (and a certain shiny diamond collar). 

The dog's out of the bag then...   

     I liked this story, mostly. Cam's mom's friend is very funny (comic relief), and Cam Jansen herself is a loveable, smart character who truly enjoys helping people. The black-and-white line illustrations in the book add to a suspense-filled story. The ending (during which the mystery is solved partly through the thief's own slip-ups) proves satisfying if a bit predictable. The good guys win and get treats. The bad guy gets scolded and punished. But even better, the heroine solves the mystery by being herself and using her special talent. Everyone has a special gift or talent! It's a good idea to use your special talent to help someone else - by solving a mystery or otherwise!

I give this book two paws up. Especially the part at the end that asks human-pups to test their own memory/detective skills! Allison also highly recommends the Cam Jansen series; it was one of her favorite series when she was a young human-pup.

Best for human-pups grades 2-4.   

Click me for more about the Sisters Grimm and the author.

Click me to see the author and Al Roker discuss the books.

The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley is the first book in a series about two sisters. When Sabrina and Daphne's parents disappear, they find themselves adopted by a strange human grown-up who calls herself their "Grandma Relda." Only, their parents never mentioned they had a living grandmama! Suspicious but desperately wanting to have a family again, the girls have trouble getting used to living in Ferryport. It seems that the Grimm family have a tradition: all members becomes fairy tale detectives. This means they make sure fairy tale characters and humans get along. In this story, fairy tale characters are real - and all living in Sabrina and Daphne's new hometown!

In a ruff whirl of kidnapped grandmas, mean giants, and fantastic magic, the girls must depend on each other as well as new friends like Puck the pixie prince, the Big Bad Wolf, and a sassy Magic Mirror. Only the sisters Grimm can solve the mystery and save their grandma! Lots of laughs in this one. Even grown-up humans will appreciate the fairy tale character references transferred to real life, Allison says. Also a lot of real feelings from little human-pups; family means a lot to all creatures! The illustrations are a bit strange, but fun just the same. I give this first in the series two paws up and a tail wag, and I've been told by Mama Suz that the next few books in the series are pretty good as well (the rest, she claims, get TOO weird). This one is for human-pups grades 4-6. And any grown-ups who love a good fairy tale of course! Woooof! 

*Note from my human Allison: The edition we read had comprehension and critical thinking questions at the back - great for family discussions or teachers' lesson plans.

And now? Now I'm off to finish watching a movie called Clue with my humans. Lots of shrieking and talk of "murder." Mysteries all around! But at least the movie's yells will help me ignore the silly BOOMS outside. Allison says people are setting off something called "fireworks." I say my poor little pup ears are near to busting with all the horrible noise! Awoooooo! Going to sleep in Allison's room tonight, I think. Even detectives get scared sometimes...

We'll be reading more mysteries at some point, but I think I need a break from hunting down the bad guys. I've still got a lot to learn! Woof!

Once again mysteriously yours (but with my human safe by my side),

Sam I Am