Synopses & Reviews
Alexandra Day has a knack for surprising juxtapositions. In fact, she is famous for it. She is the creator of a fierce looking Rottweiler named Carl who gently tends to an infant in a series of children's books that began in 1985. Now comes
The Fairy Dogfather.
A young boy, Hector, has trouble differentiating the letters d and g. Thus when he writes a request to the universe that he needs a fairy godfather, well, the Fairy Dogfather arrives instead. The Fairy Dogfather is a big black and brown who wears a fedora and beautiful brown jacket, smokes a cigar, and isn't at all what Hector had in mind. He uses a lot of big words, and instead of simply granting Hector's wishes, like a regular fairy godmother, he is a rather demanding visitor. It's understandable that a Fairy Dogfather would arrive hungry and need to check the weather report, but Hector needs a present for his Mom's birthday right away. It looks like his benefactor isn't going to be of much help. But in Day's capable and witty hands the Fairy Dogfather turns out to be a forceful and enigmatic figure who manages, with subtle wit, to grant all of Hector's wishes.
Review
"Twenty years after making his debut in Good Dog, Carl, the Rottweiler who has charmed a generation of readers has lost none of his appeal—or his spunk...As in past Carl tales, Day injects wry, child-pleasing flourishes: for instance, Carl's appearances go undetected by Madeleine's mother. Playing the key role in relaying the action, Day's stunningly realistic, brightly hued illustrations are as timeless and endearing as the plot. Carl fans young and old will cheer his return as they discover that this anything-but-sleepy canine is aging very well indeed." Review for Carl's Sleepy Afternoon, Publishers Weekly, 2005.
Review
"Move over, Mary Poppins, and make room for Carl, the ravishing rottweiler cum babysitter who makes his fourth and perhaps finest appearance yet in this gorgeously colored picture book. As with the other Carl books, these adventures are virtually wordless. When a mother meets a friend in the park, she leaves Carl in charge of her baby and the newest addition to the series, a rottweiler puppy. Carl fans know what happens next: the baby scrambles aboard Carl's back and the romp begins. Here, however, the illustrations are more dynamic and the goings-on even more beguiling than in previous outings, making wonderful use of the park setting. Carl poses like a pony on the merry-go-round; the trio rides a tiny train into a children's zoo, where the puppy incurs a ewe's maternal wrath; while the puppy wreaks more havoc, Carl and the baby model for afternoon painters, each of whom styles his canvas after a famous artist. There's lagniappe too, for gifted puzzle enthusiasts--about 20 pictures of dogs have been hidden in the illustrations." Review for Carl's Afternoon in the Park, Publishers Weekly, 1991.
Review
“(Day’s) knowledge and love of dogs and children, compounded by her keen imaginings of what they would enjoy doing together, bring joy to her playful depictions.” – Booklist
Review
PNBA Lifetime Achievement Award for Alexandra Day 2009–“Alexandra Day has achieved in her lifetime the rare status of being widely and rightly accepted as the creator of a series of now classic children’s books. In the ongoing adventures of the very good dog, Carl, Day has conjured a largely wordless, beautifully rendered world of bright colors and blissful days, the perfect fantasy of innocent exploration.” – Pacific Northwest Bookseller Awards Committee
Review
“(Day’s) illustrations, in lustrous oils, are a handsome counterpoint to the whimsy of the narratives.” –
People Magazine
Synopsis
Alexandra Day's bestselling
Good Dog, Carl series features a dog who is takes his family's child on various adventures, always managing to conceal this from the parents. Now with
The Fairy Dogfather Alexandra Day has created another character that has a special relationship with a child.
A young boy, Hector, has trouble differentiating the letters d and g. Thus when he writes a request to the universe that he needs a fairy godfather, well, the Fairy Dogfather arrives instead. It looks like his benefactor isn't going to be of much help. But in Day's capable and witty hands the Fairy Dogfather manages, with subtle wit, to grant all of Hector's wishes.
About the Author
Alexandra Day and her husband, Harold Darling, established the Green Tiger Press in 1970. In 1983, Harold and Sandra were visiting Zurich, Switzerland, when they came across a volume of old German picture sheets, one of which featured a poodle playing with a baby who was supposed to be taking a nap. This image provided the inspiration for ""Good Dog, Carl,"" which successfully began what would become an increasingly popular picture book series. The Darling's own dog, a Rottweiler named Toby, was the model for the first book's main character. Since then, three other Darling Rottweilers have posed as Carl in the sequels. The Darlings now live in Seattle, Washington, where they have a ten-thousand-book library, primarily filled with illustrated children's books.
Alexandra Day and her husband, Harold Darling, established the Green Tiger Press in 1970. In 1983, Harold and Sandra were visiting Zurich, Switzerland, when they came across a volume of old German picture sheets, one of which featured a poodle playing with a baby who was supposed to be taking a nap. This image provided the inspiration for ""Good Dog, Carl,"" which successfully began what would become an increasingly popular picture book series. The Darling's own dog, a Rottweiler named Toby, was the model for the first book's main character. Since then, three other Darling Rottweilers have posed as Carl in the sequels. The Darlings now live in Seattle, Washington, where they have a ten-thousand-book library, primarily filled with illustrated children's books.