Customer Reviews

Martha Speaks

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Somehow, after eating a bowl of alphabet soup, Martha the dog can speak! (There's a very funny illustration of the letters going to her brain instead of her stomach; no further explanation is necessary!). But being able to speak is not the same as knowing when to speak (she interrupts people), how much to say (she talks incessantly), or what to say (she can be a little rude at times).

A very funny book, with nice loopy pictures, a subtle lesson in manners, and a happy outcome (except for the would-be burglar). One of a series of "Martha" books, this would make a great gift for young children, and is one of those special finds that adult will enjoy reading as well!

Kids love the idea of a talking dog, and Martha's story is amusing, as she develops the ability to speak after eating alphabet soup and then drives her family mad with her nonstop talking (except during her own televisioin shows, of course). It's unfortunate that the family eventually collectively yell at Martha to "SHUT UP!" but we just talk about the inappropriateness of the family's response, even when they're frustrated. Eventually they resolve the situation when Martha proves to be brave, intelligent and lucky during an encounter with a burglar. A bit loopy but kids love it/

This book is one that children will love. It is amusing andteaches children a valuable lesson about talking too much, by helpingchildren to realize that some things are not always appropriate to say at certain times. Martha is a character that everyone can fall in love with. This book is humorous, and beautifully illustrated. Even those who are not pet lovers can be lured into this book. This is a book that can brighten anyones day! Everyone should own this book!

I'm 30 years old, and BEG my nieces to let me read this to them over and over! I'm not only a dog lover, but I also appreciate the hysterical humor and illustrations. This book will please kids and adults alike! (Favorite line: "Martha, SHUT UP!" (It's funny when you read it!)

Once again I got this for my nephew. This is a great book with colorful pictures and an amusing storyline. Martha is a dog and one day she eats a bowl of alphabet soup and suddenly finds she can talk. At first her owners are delighted but the novelty soon wears off when Martha talks none-stop, creating many funny situations that leave you giggling as you turn each page. Martha is truthful, never lying, thus causing embarrassment for her owner when she tells someone that her owner said the fruitcake she had made was not fit for a dog, but she (Martha) had enjoyed it. Eventually the family tell Martha to SHUT-UP and she is crushed and after that refuses to talk anymore. This is resolved however when Martha saves the day when the family home is burgled. This book will have you crying with laugher as this little pooch and her family worm their way into your heart. Having read this book to my six-year-old nephew I feel that the reading age for this book should be six to eight as it is filled with conversation that might be too hard for a very young reader. All the same it is a great book for an adult to read to a child, and the colorful pictures are well drawn and pleasing to the eye. A very nice book, that most young children (and adults) will love and want to read again and again.

Warning: By reading this book to your children you may be inadvertently encouraging them to force-feed their puppies alphabet soup. Creating a book that is as much comic strip as it is enjoyable picture book, Susan Meddaugh's enjoyable 1992 creation follows the adventures and misadventures of Martha the talking pup. After being fed a bowl of delicious alphabet soup, Martha, the family pet, begins talking in complete grammatically correct sentences. For the family, this new occurrence is initially a boon. Martha is able to explain all kinds of doggish mysteries, hitherto unexplained to humans. She answers the door to the pizza delivery girl, much to family's amusement. She amazes both family and friends. Unfortunately, there are downsides to owning a talking dog. Martha, once she learns how to dial the phone, is prone to ordering large quantities of barbecue beef. She doesn't understand such social niceties as not commenting on someone's appearance loudly in pubic (especially if that someone is fat). And she talks constantly about nothing at all. When the family finally proclaims that Martha's talking is too much, the humbled doggie falls into a deep depression and refuses to devour anymore alphabet soup. Fortunately the appearance of a nasty burglar in the home gives Martha the opportunity to save the day and reinstate herself as the family's favorite talking dog.

The book's an original, no question. Martha's constant chatter appears as speech balloons over her head. If you get this edition in hardback, I highly recommend that you flip to the author's photo on the back inside cover to see a picture of a dog that looks very much as if it might have been the inspiration for Martha's cuddly form. The illustrations are sweet and inticing and Martha says everything you'd expect a dog to say (if neutered). The double page spread of her blowing away the family with an incredibly long speech is particularly impressive. I suspect that if you were to read this book to your little one they would insist that you read every single word that pops out of Martha's mouth. All things considered, this might take some time so prepare to set aside some 20 minutes for a full and unabridged reading of the delightful "Martha Speaks". As for the use of the term, "shut up", (which the family yells at Martha when they canst takes it no more) this is left entirely up to the reader's discretion. If you live in a home where the phrase is considered impolite, you may wish to read it aloud from the book in a silly way, or simply disguise it as the less controversial "Be Quiet" (which I do not, personally, endorse). If this phrase is not considered impolite in your home, let rip and let go.

This is altogether a fine book and an amusing story. This is an excellent choice for those children interested in the intricacies of canine yabbering.

I actually bought this book because I thought it was amusing but both my husband and (dog loving) 2yo daughter love it too. It is the book that our daughter picks out every night as her main bedtime story. Sometimes we read just the text and sometimes we read bits of Martha's monologues as well. As for teaching young children bad language, our daughter did start saying 'Shut up' after the first couple of readings of this book but we just change that bit to 'Be quiet!' when we read the book out loud to her.

We love this book- what child wouldn't? Martha is a great character; someone I'd love even as a human or an ordinary dog, but as a talking dog, she's great! She has sufficient depth that I'm not left feeling that something important has been left out. The illustrations are wonderful as well- portly Martha ordering lots of meat from the butcher- very nice.

This, as well as the other "Martha" books, ranks among my daughter's all-time favorites. We've had the library copy checked out for 6 months now, have given it as birthday gifts, and I'm now breaking down and buying a copy for ourselves!

Downing a bowl of alphabet soup the family dog comes up wordy in Susan Meddaugh's gently funny picture book. Friendly illustrations will soon have sympathetic kids relating their own version as Martha wears out her wonder with incessant chatter.