From Publishers WeeklyIn this fourth book of Meddaugh’s Martha series, the mild-mannered pooch who derives the power of speech from alphabet soup takes herself for a stroll. When somebody calls her a “good dog,” she ingenuously replies, “What other kind of dog is there?” She soon has her answer when she meets Bob, a hulking, bearlike mutt who viciously barks at passers-by. Bob’s bearded owner is “just as ferocious,” berating his pet with the words, “Bad dog Bob! Bad dog!” She moves on to another neighbor’s yard, where she teaches a parrot to call her a “good dog.” Martha’s huge mouth gets her into trouble when she returns to lecture Bob, not realizing that he has broken free of his thick metal chain. Fortunately, he chases Martha into the parrot’s yard, where the magic words?”good dog!”?save Martha from sure doom. As in former volumes, Meddaugh carries much of the story forward through dialog that appears in hand-lettered voice bubbles, and her illustrations winningly convey the characters’ personalities. The golden-brown, thick-waisted heroine’s deep sincerity, with her drooping ears and expressive eyes, remainder her comical self-righteous streak. The lunging, growling Bob is veritably scary, but compliments tame his anger and smooth his shaggy coat. Young animal lovers ought to be admonished that not each snarling bad dog may be as miraculously transformed as Bob into an earnest good dog. Nevertheless, Meddaugh with great success sends the message that pets (and their owners) respond best to kindness. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library JournalKindergarten-Grade 3-Martha the talking dog has yet another adventure. This time, the loquacious canine has the ominous experience of having a noisy neighbor move in with his bad dog. Bob is always barking and his owner is always screaming at him. When the offensive animal starts to pick on the neighborhood dogs, Martha speaks up. A beautifully originative name-calling chase ensues. “You mangy mongrel/crummy cur/big baboon,” she taunts. However, she later finds that a talking parrot’s praise is far more effective at controlling the bully’s behavior, and his owner learns to calm him with sweet talk. The story ends, “Looks like the beginning of a pretty friendship.” Everything in regards to the book is exceedingly well done, from the story line to the illustrations and presentation. The drawings are colorful and full of emotion, showing a wide range of sensations in the canine and humane faces. Another outstanding story in a great tradition.
Shelley Woods, Boston Public Library, MA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From BooklistAges 4^-8. Martha tames a bully–with kind words–in the latest funny tale of the talking dog. She enjoys impressing persons with her capacity to speak, but she also needs her daily walks with her neighborhood dog pals, scratching, sniffing, snoozing, chasing. Then a new dog arrives, a big, ferocious hound who barks at Martha and everything else and who is kept chained up by his fierce owner. One day, the angry bully breaks his chain and chases Martha. All her shouts and insults have no effect, and she almost runs out of words and breath–until the bully hears the words “Good dog!” and he smiles and wags his tail. As always, Meddaugh’s line-and-watercolor cartoons and ballooned gags celebrate not only humor and courage but likewise Martha’s elementary discovery: “Words are such fun.” Hazel Rochman
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Martha Walks Dog Susan Meddaugh Photo
Martha Walks Dog Susan Meddaugh Picture
Martha Walks Dog Susan Meddaugh Photo
Most helpful customer reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
 It’s a good thing!
By K. Bennett
Take one dog with attitude, add one can of alphabet soup, and you’ve got Martha, who not only talks, but isn’t afraid to speak her mind. In this book, her fourth adventure so far, Martha learns the power that other people’s (or animal’s) words have on our self-image.
Every day, Martha walks herself around the neighborhood, and every day things are pretty much the same — until Bad Dog Bob moves in. Bob spends his days lurking under the porch steps, then charging at anything that moves into his line of sight. Only two things keep him from ripping his neighbors to shreds — his chain, which only reaches so far, and his owner, who always screams, “BAD DOG, BOB! BAD DOG! “
Then someone else moves into the neighborhood. This animal can talk, too, but Martha soon realizes her new neighbor is only parroting her words back to her. She teaches the bird to say “Good dog! What a dog!” and “You must have fleas!”
When Martha decides one day to tell Bad Dog Bob what she really thinks of him, she’s not counting on his chain being broken. Just when Martha is sure Bob is going to have her for a doggie treat, a voice from above says, “Good dog!” Suddenly, Bob smiles. Quick-thinking Martha teaches her parrot friend more words of praise, and Bad Dog Bob turns into Tail-wagging Bob.
My kids love the Martha books because they are so funny. I love them because they are great jumping off places for discussions of serious topics. This book led to a discussion of just what it means to call someone “Stupid Head.” I can’t say we’ve totally eliminated that insult or others like it from our house, but we’re working on it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
wonderful, fun, funny, and good message.
By bayareakirk
I am sad to see the hardcover no longer available. I just gave my copy as a present to a student. I read this book to grades K-4 as part of “social skills” teaching. This book is a fun way to explore the power of words and tone of voice. A dog that is called “bad boy, Bob” acts like a bad dog. Once he hears “good dog”, “handsome dog” and other compliments, he feels much happier. It is fun to read, the illustrations are wonderful, and kids love it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Fun to read to children and loved by Elementary aged children
By bayareakirk
A fun book about the power of words.
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