Product Description

Touche L'Engle-Franklin is confused: Her mistress goes away for several days—and then returns with another dog. But this dog doesn't have a tail. She doesn't have much hair. And she never has to go outside when it's raining. What on earth could the family want with that inferior breed known as Baby? Based on the true tale of her own poodle's experience coping with a new baby in the house, Newbery-winning author Madeleine L'Engle gives this familiar domestic drama an utterly charming new twist. Tongue-in-cheek wit, endearing illustrations, and a revealing author's note make this a publishing event to celebrate.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #263886 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

Amazon.com Review
From the beloved author of the Newbery Medal-winning title A Wrinkle in Time comes a charming story for younger readers, especially those with a new sibling. Touche L'Engle-Franklin, the very talented, sophisticated, and articulate poodle of the house, is shocked and dismayed when her master and mistress bring home another dog, especially such an odd-looking one. This interloper has no fur to speak of, no tail, and--horror of horrors--it does its business inside the house, in something called a diaper. Touche doesn't know what to make of this strange turn of events--after all, as she says, "This was a great waste of money. Dogs are expensive to feed and clothe, and one dog is enough for any family. I fail to see why I did not satisfy all requirements." Gradually, though, although she still considers the addition to the family an inferior breed, Touche begins to warm to "Jo-dog," and ultimately determines that "in every home there should be at least two dogs!"

Funny, touching, and original, this oversize picture book is just the ticket for disgruntled siblings. Precocious pooch Touche expresses her feelings toward the new baby in the household in a way that any child can relate to and every adult will recognize, and Christine Davenier's watercolor-and-ink illustrations have the nostalgic feel of Ludwig Bemelmans's Madeline books. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly
HReaders raised on L'Engle's thoughtful novels (A Wrinkle in Time) will discover a new side of the writer in this impish, tongue-in-cheek memoir. Ostensibly the L'Engle family poodle's account of the arrival of a new baby (whom she thinks an odd sort of dog), Touch L'Engle-Franklin's narrative is enlivened by genteel dismay and the generous use of italics: "From the start I noticed a great many mysterious and horrifying things. For instance, when I am taken out to get some fresh air I always have to walk even when it rains. The Jo is taken out in a carriage, and when it rains she doesn't have to go out at all." The poodle softens enough by the end of the story to admit that the family might, after all, be better off with "two dogs." Davenier (Leon and Albertine) conveys the expressions and attitudes of the exasperated poodle with calligraphic wit; the family's 1950s-era Manhattan apartment is evoked in her ink-and-wash drawings with such warmth and immediacy that readers can almost hear the radiators hissing. In concert with the sprightly typeface, Davenier's illustrations give the book an engaging retro feel, but the closing shot of dog and baby nestled together for a nap is timeless. Any family with a cosseted dog and a new baby will feel this is written just for them. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3-A whimsical look at sibling rivalry from a canine point of view. When her mistress brings home a new baby girl, the resident dog, a stylish and articulate poodle, experiences several stages of adjustment (disbelief, disdain, acceptance, and finally affection). Children will revel in the distaste Touch? expresses over the obvious inferiority of the newcomer while extolling her own virtues. Her observations are pointed, but because they are comparisons between dog and human, and humorously colored by her canine perspective, they are witty but never mean-spirited. Likewise, her eventual conclusion that "in every home there should be at least two dogs" is genuinely satisfying. The high-spirited, lolloping text is perfectly complemented by the illustrations and overall design. Watercolors reminiscent of the work of Ludwig Bemelmans or Marjorie Priceman follow the dog as she sulks, scowls, and snuggles her way across the pages of rich cream stock. Color, tone, and composition are used to evoke the mood and period. Effective use of font size and design underscores the conversational tone of the tale while enhancing the visual appeal. The extensive author's note relating the facts of Touch?'s eccentric and fascinating life adds appeal and rich background to the narrative. Colored-pencil drawings by the author, contemporary to the story, provide a fitting final flair.
Starr LaTronica, Four County Library System, Vestal, NY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Humorous View of a New Sibling for Preschoolers
On the surface, this story is about a spoiled dog's reaction to a first human baby coming home. The story is told in first dog, with Touche L'Engle-Franklin speaking as narrator. That perspective will provide much surface humor. Underneath that story line is the concept of the adjustments that siblings must make when the second child arrives. At first there is a sense of being displaced, then superiority over the pitiful creature follows, and finally love and connection arrive. The book is improved by an extensive author's note at the end about how the story is based on real-life experiences in her family. The book's main weakness is that it should have had simpler vocabulary so that it could have been used with the younger children who are about to meet their first sibling. You can still do that, but will have to rewrite or paraphrase the text so that the story will be completely understandable.

The writing is quite humorous. "First of all, I think you should know that I am the one who wrote this book." "So, I -- Touche L'Engle-Franklin -- write this book, with the assistance of that inferior canine Jo [the baby]."

"This summer my mistress went away for several days . . . she brought with her another dog." "I fail to see why I did not satisfy all requirements."

The humor builds on the drawbacks of human babies -- they have to be carried, they need diapers (and those have to be changed!), they must be fed several times a day, and they are almost hairless and wear clothes.

Over time, Touche takes over watching Jo in the playpen, as they play together through the bars.

" . . . [I] come to the

unpredictable,

surprising,

amazing,

astonishing,

astounding conclusion:

in every home there should be at least two dogs!"

The book ends with a painted grey paw print.

Ms. Davenier's images are cheerful watercolors that feel like they might have been made sometime between the 1930s and 1950s. This gives the book a feeling of heritage and elegance. The details are inked in with soaring spirals that add motion to the images, often showing Touche dancing all around the room over a large two page spread.

Reading this book reminded me of our dog's reaction when our oldest came home from the hospital. Skipper, our Sheltie, looked definitely puzzled, but was very interested. Soon, he was patiently letting "the new dog" pull his hair (as long as it wasn't too hard). They became very close companions, and it was a great pleasure to watch them play together. I don't think I would have remembered that experience again except for reading this book.

You might also want to encourage your child to address what it might be like to view a new baby in the family from other perspectives. How will the cat who lives next door think about the new baby? In this way, you can make the introduction more comfortable. The best time to do this is while the family is pregnant. Obviously, you also need to train any pets you have to behave around your baby. I remember reading good books on this subject, but don't remember their names at the moment.

Be patient with all new dogs . . . and the old dogs and children who will eye them suspiciously!

Great for an Older Sibling of a New Baby
I have been a fan of Madeleine L'Engle since I first ran across A Wrinkle in Time in my grade school many years ago now. Since then, I have read just about every book she has written and I have never been disappointed. L'Engle is one of the most consistent writers of high quality books that is out there.

I'm a little past the age of the target audience for this book but it is a fun little book that older siblings of new babies are sure to enjoy. This was in my mind as my brother and his wife had their second child a few weeks ago. In this book, the family dog has to deal with feelings of jealously at the arrival of a new baby in the house. It is a cute and humorous little story told from the dog's point of view. If you need a gift so that an older sibling doesn't feel left out when the new baby arrives, this is a good choice.

A real departure, but still worth owning.
The Other Dog is the newest of a relatively small number of picture books Madeleine L'Engle has written over the years. Unlike the others, this one is neither about the Austin family nor about a biblical figure. The star of this book is Touche L'Engle-Franklin, a stage-acting poodle. When Touche's owners bring home their first baby, Touche can't figure out why they wanted this "other dog," who doesn't even have a tail!

Rated for ages 4-8, the book does not have the limited vocabulary one associates with this age group. I don't personally see that as a problem. For adult L'Engle fans, there's a nice little afterword by the author about the real-life Touche, who became part of Madeleine L'Engle's life at about the same time that she met her husband, the late Hugh Franklin.

This isn't L'Engle's best work, but it's fine for what it is. It's a cute little story for children, and also manages to have some interest for the adult L'Engle fan. It's nice to see some new fiction from her, even a short piece like this, as we wait for her unfinished novel (which may never be completed, unfortunately) about Meg Murry O'Keefe as an adult.