Review — The Great Smelly Slobbery Small-Tooth Dog

By Alan Caruba
Bookview — 9/1/2007

My complaint about too many books for young readers, children as opposed to teenagers, are that they begin with an "agenda." The purpose is to teach or preach. It often gets in the way of telling a good story. Thus, when I come upon one that is just great fun and only may incidentally offer good advice, I am always pleased. This is especially true of the modern re-telling of a British tale in The Great Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Tooth Dog ($16.95, August House) by Margaret Read MacDonald and illustrated beautifully by Julie Paschkis. Ideal for those to whom the book can be read or for new readers, it is about a dog that saves a rich man’s life. When offered a variety of gifts as a reward, the dog turns them down and asks for the man’s daughter. She dutifully goes off with the dog that happens to live in a great castle. Though she comes to care for him, she misses her father. When he returns her to him, having heard her declaration of love for him despite his being a great, smelly, slobbery, small-tooth dog, he turns into a handsome prince. The story is marvelously told and illustrated.

Title Details: The Great Smelly Slobbery Small-Tooth Dog
Author: Margaret Read MacDonald 
Illustrator: Julie Paschkis
Interest Level: GR PreK-2

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Recently recognized as one of "America's 101 Top Independent Publishers," August House is a highly-acclaimed and award-winning multimedia publisher of children's stories and folktale anthologies. August House's is based in Atlanta, GA.

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