Synopses & Reviews
Praise for Buster series: andquot;A good choice for kids just past the easiest reader stage.andquot; andmdash;Booklistand#160;The adventures ofand#160;and#160;Buster continue in twoand#160;newand#160;easy-to-readand#160;stories.and#160;In the first,and#160;Buster isand#160;startledand#160;by noisesand#160;and rustling in the dark space under the porch.and#160;Upon discovering aand#160;homeless kitten,and#160;Buster musters upand#160;the courage toand#160;help the kitty,and#160;despite loud objections and humorous antics from his canine paland#160;Phoebe andand#160;twoand#160;territorial cats.and#160;The funand#160;continuesand#160;in aand#160;second story whenand#160;Buster and Phoebe introduce the kitty to theand#160;dog next door, and the four furry friendsand#160;tryand#160;to find a game they can all play together. Get set for laugh-out-loudand#160;results.and#160;
Review
Dog and cat lovers and shy kids everywhere will happily (and successfully) read and reread these stories.
--Kirkus andquot;The dogs featured have very childlike characteristics, andand#160; youngsters will find much to identify with.andquot;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; --Publisherand#39;s Weeklyand#160;andquot;These stories about a puppy searching for his strengths will bring smiles of recognition toand#160;the beginning- reader set .and#160; . . Bechtoldand#39;s watercolor-and-ink illustrations are droll and plentiful. Children not quite ready for Cynthia Rylantand#39;s Henry and Mudge seriesand#160;appreciate the natural repetition of vocabulary and the brevity of text per page.andquot;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; --School Library Journaland#160;andquot;An agreeable, relatable story and above-average cartoon-style artwork that features the particularly appealing Buster. A good choice for kids just past the easiest reader stage.
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; ---Booklist, ALAandquot;The digest-sized format of the book is pitched toward both picture-book and beginning-reader audiences, and the lively ink-and-watercolor illustrations have a well-drawn goofiness that barks up just the right tree.andquot;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;--Horn Book
andquot;Bechtold makes a sturdy debut with these. . .episodes in the life of a big dog with scrawny self-esteem. Although he is intimidated by strangers and totally unable to catch thrown objects, Buster discovers that heand#39;s a good listener, a talent that comes in handy when thereand#39;s an escaped hamster to track down, a gang of nocturnal garbage-pail plunderers to catch in the act, or a lonely human to comfort. Slinking anxiously through airy, simply drawn scenes, the pop-eyed, charcoal-colored pooch looks ready to bolt at the drop of a hat, and while he finds a measure of courage at last in the company of his outgoing canine companion, Phoebe, readers will want to give him a reassuring hug. Scoot over, Mudge.andquot;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; --Kirkus Reviews
Review
"The great thing about the show . . . is how seamlessly it weaves word usage into the story lines of each episode. . .and#160;. The words are defined, used in sentences and repeated, yet at no time does any of this feel like - ugh! - school." --
San Francisco Chronicle "The showand#160;. . . incorporates vocabulary lessons into the antics of Martha and her two-legged pals." --The Washington Post
"Martha's animation is colorful and perky, just like Martha and the family home she inhabits." --The Hollywood Reporter
"Martha's a pretty savvy girl with some pretty good lessons. . . . [she] is a smart, confident, happy dog whose home life illustrates how people should care for animals - another plus for the series." --The Orange County Register
"[T]he real draw is how the series boosts vocabularies, exploring words that require more than a pictogram to explain." --Time Out Kids
"Kids will quickly fall in love with the charming yellow canine at the heart of this series because she's fun-loving and excited to learn new things. . . . Martha Speaks does a good job of exposing kids to new vocabulary. . . . The show also makes an effort to weave in positive messages about qualities like self-confidence, friendship, and civic responsibility - all great lessons for young kids." --Common Sense Media
"There's plenty of good humor from the newly loquacious pooch . . . but the program is, at heart, a stealth vocabulary lesson." --Cookiemag.com
Plenty of parenting blog coverage:
"It is a cartoon about a dog that ate some alphabet soup and it went to her brain instead of her stomach and now she can talk. We even made a trip to the library last week and checked out Martha Speaks books. She will not be happy when I have to return those books.and#160;We have to read them to her about four times a day!"
"It is a new, sweet animated series on PBS . . . My little girls love it - and they can be a tough crowd to impress."
"[D]efinitely keeping this cool dog on our watch list." and#8212;mommafindings.com
"I love this show." and#8212;lovethydog.com
Review
andquot;Dog and cat lovers and shy kids everywhere will happily (and successfully) read and reread these stories.andquot; --Kirkus
Synopsis
A Level 2 Green Light Reader all about football and the Wagstaff Dogs' unlikely coach: girly-girl Carolina! This early reader based on the popular PBS TV show Martha Speaks features a "Toss Up" word game about sports words that have double-meanings like "pass," "tackle," and "huddle."
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Synopsis
Rah rah grrr! We're the fighting fur! The Wagstaff Dogs have lost every game this season. Until Martha finds themand#160;the perfect coach . . . Carolina! She knows all the plays and can handleand#160;a football like a pro.and#160;But football justand#160;doesn't go with her girly-girl image. Can Martha convince Carolina to help, even if Tiffany Blatsky might see her?
This Level 2 Green Light Reader based on the popular PBSand#160;TV series Martha Speaksand#160;is all about teamwork and following your passions, even when you're nervous about what others might think. Includes a "Toss Up" word game about sports words that have double meanings, such asand#160;"pass," "tackle," and "huddle." Go, Dogs!
Synopsis
The adventures ofand#160;and#160;Buster, the Very Shy Dog, continue in twoand#160;newand#160;easy-to-readand#160;stories about a homeless kitty and a playdate withand#160;the big, grouchy dog next door.
Synopsis
Buster is not a small dog, but he feels like a small dog. He feels small at crowded birthday parties. He feels small when he tries to catch balls or chase wild animals. He especially feels small next to Phoebe, a bold dog who is an ace ballcatcher, popular at parties, and seemingly unafraid of anything. In these two stories Buster discovers his self-worth and self-confidence and makes friends along the way. Beginning readers will relate to Busterand#39;s fears and his successes and will relish in their very own triumph of reading on their own.
Synopsis
andquot;These stories about a puppy searching for his strengths will bring smiles of recognition to the beginning-reader set.andquot; andmdash;School Library Journaland#160;Join Buster the very shy dog as he discovers his self-worth and self-confidence in a house full of more outgoing canine and feline characters. Newly formatted for Green Light Readers Level 3, this edition of Busterand#160;features two easy-to-read stories from the original book. In the first, a wary Buster reaches out to befriend a girl who seems sad and lonely at a birthday party. In the second, Buster, insecure about his inability to catch a ball, uncovers a winning talent all his own!
Synopsis
Helen andand#160;friendsand#160;decide to make homemade valentines for each other. But when everybodyand#8217;s art supplies begin disappearing, they start to suspect each other. Can Martha sniff out the culprit of the stolen supplies before their sweet holiday mood goes sour?and#160;Paperback includes a funand#160;wordand#160;activity and two sheets of cardstock valentines to color and decorate!
Synopsis
Alice and Helen plan to go camping to earn their Junior Gophers badges. When Ronald finds out, he warns them about Big Minnie, a mythical monster who lives in the woods. Undeterred, the campers set off. After all, everybody knows Big Minnieand#8217;s imaginary. Or is she? Includes a fun pretend camping trip activity. Now bilingual!
Synopsis
When Martha's family brings her home from the pound as a puppy, she barks and woofs like any other dog. But after Helen feeds her a bowl of alphabet soup, Martha begins to speak! As readers meet Martha and her family, they'll soon learn how fun and challenging living with a talking dog can be.
This book uses picture symbols within the text to help introduce lovable Martha and her fun-loving family and friends to beginning readers. Includes a cut-out flashcard game.
Synopsis
Martha worries that her recent bouts of bad luck might be contagious! Uh-oh. Martha walked under a ladderand#8212;and then she broke a mirrorand#8212;so now she thinks sheand#8217;s jinxed! Helen tries to explain that all the accidents are just coincidence. But when a nearby toddler stumbles and a waiter takes a clumsy spill, Martha worries that her bad luck might be rubbing off on everybody else. Will Martha be spreading bad luck for seven whole years? Includes a "Test Your Knowledge" activity on common superstitions.
About the Author
Susan Meddaugh studied art and illustration and has worked as a designer, art director, and freelance illustrator. She now lives in Sherborn, Massachusetts with her son andand#160;three shelter dogs. She has created andand#160;illustrated many books for children.and#160;In 1998 she was awarded the New England Book Award, given by the New England Booksellers Association to recognize a body of work. and#160; Martha was a real dog who lived with Susan and her family. One day, when Susan's son Niko (who was 7 at the time) was eating alphabet soup, he wondered what would happen if they fed the soup to Martha. Would she talk? This was the seed for the first Martha Speaks book. Since then five more pictures book about Marthaand#160;have beenand#160;published.and#160;A PBSand#160;television show debuted in September 2008 with much fanfare and many great reviews. and#160; To see an interview with the author, go to the PBS website: pbskids.org/martha/index.html