Customer Reviews

Dear Mrs. La Rue: Letters From Obedience School

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When I came across this book, I knew I had to read it. A dog writing letters home from dog obedience school? How can this not be an enjoyable book? Poor, misunderstood Ike has been sent off to the Igor Brotweiler Canine Academy by his harried owner Mrs. Gertrude R. LaRue. Ike does what any dog would do in such a situation; he tries to make his owner feel so guilty about putting him there that she will come and get him. He does have a point of sorts, as the straw that broke the camel's (or, in this case, Mrs. LaRue's) back has two very different sides to it. As the days pass, Ike becomes defensive, then he changes tactics in an effort to show his owner how much she needs him back. Will poor Ike ever see his home again? Will he never again be able to munch on another one of Mrs. LaRue's apple pies? Perish the thought.

This book is aimed at children four to eight years old, although parents and weird adults like me should also get a kick out of it. The letters are funny, and one could - if one were so inclined - make an object lesson out of comparing Ike's situation with that of a misbehaving child, but the big sell here is really the pictures. Each page is graced with vivid illustrations contrasting the reality of Ike's life at the Academy with the melodramatic visions of oppression and misery he tries to convey in his letters to Mrs. LaRue. If you are looking for that special book to convince your young child that reading is fun, Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School may well be that book.

My husband and I LOVED this book... it's a treat for readers of all ages! Anyone who has ever owned a pet... had a child... or BEEN a child... can relate all too well to Ike's melodramatic reimaginings of reality. No detail in this book has been overlooked... Ike's tone in every letter is perfect and true. The illustrations are packed with funny details. This is the perfect book for the child or dog-lover in anyone's life -- I've found the perfect Christmas stocking stuffer for about 8 people on my list!

As the local newpaper reports: "Citing a long list of behavioral problems, Snort City resident Gertrude R. LaRue yesterday enrolled her dog, Ike, in the Igor Brotweiler Canine Academy. Established in 1953, the Academy has a history of dealing with such issues..." Poor Ike, as he tells it, in clever letters home to his mistress, his unfortunate incarceration is all a big mistake. Brotweiler is filled with bad dogs, and he doesn't fit in. He is very unhappy and just doesn't deserve this gross injustice. But as we take a peek at his life in obedience school, one thing becomes immediately apparent, Ike's not living a cruel doggy jailhouse existence as he claims, but is spending his days in the lap of luxury at what appears to be a plush canine spa, complete with pool, sauna, and waiter served gourmet meals..... Mark Teague's engaging text, with its dry, dead-pan delivery, is peppered with hilarious, guilt-laden hyperbole. But it's his marvelously creative and imaginative illustrations, rich in witty, eye-catching detail, that really make this book stand out and sparkle. Each two page spread shows Ike in bold color, leading the life of a pampered dog at "Club Pet" juxtaposed with the black and white jailhouse scenes of his letters, and kids will revel in being in on the joke. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Dear Mrs. LaRue is an entertaining, fun-filled romp that shouldn't be missed, and definitely one of the best new books of 2002.

Ike LaRue is a dog wronged. Accused of eating a chicken pie without permission, scaring the neighbor's cats, and tearing his owner's camel hair coat, he finds himself shipped off to a posh obedience school. But Ike, being quite the ham, exaggerates his "imprisonment" in a series of letters to his accusing owner, Mrs. LaRue. Despite his protestations concerning the food, the "guards", and the lousy medical care he receives (being unfairly labeled a "hypochondriac") while in the clutches of the Igor Brotweiler school, his judgmental owner never springs the poor pooch.

Mark Teague brings his pretentious pup to glowing life in a series of truth vs. fiction illustrations that show Ike's reality in contrast with the imagined conditions he portrays in his notes home. It's difficult not to smile at the lengths Ike goes to in order to prove himself innocent, while pleading for his owner to rescue him from a fate worse than death.

Is Ike justified in the end? Let's just say that all dogs have their day and Ike's is better than most.

This is one of those exceedingly rare books that will appeal to children AND parents. The large, lively graphics, wit, and overall cleverness in concept make this an endearing classic already. Even my three year old son, who can in no way understand many of the sly jokes, repeatedly wished to have us read this one - always a great endorsement. On first reading I thought the book was a little much, but it grows on you, getting funnier with each reading. I've never really seen a children's book like this one before and for sheer flair "Dear Mrs. LaRue" gets a big thumbs up.

Not since Snoopy himself penned those famous words, "It was a dark and stormy night", has a canine been so eloquent on paper. Having been sent to obedience school for what he deems minor infractions, Ike LaRue finds himself writing pitiful letters to his owner afar. Kids reading this book will have to distinguish between the overdramatic things Ike says and the colorful pictures that display how life really is. As they read the book, children will see that while Ike may state some over-exaggerations, he truly does feel affection for his owner, Mrs. LaRue.

Author Mark Teague is hardly unknown to the world of children's illustrations. The ever-popular "How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" featured his own unique illustrating methods. But he is just as able an author. "Dear Mrs. LaRue", is an adept melding of text and artistry. In each scene the viewer sees the truth in color, and Ike's fabulous imaginations in bleak black and white. Interestingly enough, it is difficult to say exactly how much Ike says is fanciful. For example, Ike's insistence that he has saved his owner numerable times from speeding vehicles turns out to be more than true at the end of the story. Also, a final shot of the cats Ike has hounded suggests that they may not be the angelic creatures so believed of their owners.

The book is an excellent one for children, containing more than a few visual jokes for adults. Parents can choose whether or not to explain what Ike's diagnosis of "hypochondria" really means or why they laughed when one of the final pictures displayed a jubilant display of people carrying "I like Ike" signs.

Mark Teague notes on the book flap that when his own dog wanted attention it would feign a limp, "But if he was distracted by something - a squirrel or an interesting smell - he was likely to forget which paw was supposedly hurt and give himself away". With such an inspiration, this book wasn't necessarily bound to be good. It just happened to work out nicely that way.

I found this book quite by accident while in the children's section of the bookstore looking for a book for my infant daughter. I am a dog lover as well as a parent and as I read the book I could just imagine my dogs in the same predicaments -we've even started calling our one trouble maker, Scooby, Scooby LaRue. I laughed out loud at the store and bought the book immediately as a gift for another dog loving friend. I intend to purchase one for myself as well. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves dogs - its not just for kids!

This is the perfect dog lovers book. This captures the every whim and fancy or a dog's life and their many moods. I was very impressed. I read it in the middle of the store out loud as we shopped and I laughed so hard. I even had tears in my eyes because it was so incredibly close to home. When Ike gets in trouble for eating the chicken pot pie I am reminded of my dog sneaking into the kitchen to see what I may have left within his reach. It is a wonderful book for all ages- children will love this book. I bought it immediately!

Although this book is going to be a Christmas present for a 7 year old, it was so good that I admit that I thought about keeping it for myself!

This picture book tells the story of Ike, a fun-loving dog who gets into trouble once to often. His person, Mrs. Larue, send him to obedience school, from whence he sends letters to Mrs. Larue describing the "awful" circumstances of the school. The joke, which kids will get due to the contradictions between the illustration and text, is that the school is more of a resort than the prison Ike makes it out to be in his letters home.

A very funny book with charming illustrations and real way with words. Highly recommended.

In a series of letters from dog Ike LaRue to his owner, we learn that Ike has been sent to doggie reform school for a long list of transgressions, not the least having to do with the neighbors' cats.

Of course Ike is not to blame and is an innocent victum of circumstance. At least, he tries to convince his owner of his innocence and pleads for her to get him out. As his request goes unanswered, his letters become more and more desperate.
You'll have to read the book to see how Ike resolves his problem.

This is a funny one, one I'm buying for all of the kids I know. Recommended!

Another teacher (we both teach 2nd grade) shared this book with me for teaching our students about fact and opinion. The book shows two points of view-- the dog's, and what is really happening. It is written all in letters from the dog (who is in obedience school) to his owner (who put him there). Fabulous illustrations and engaging story. My students loved it (and so did I)!