Customer Reviews

McDuff and the Baby (new design) (McDuff Stories)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

My one-year-old daughter loves McDuff. The illustrations are what really make this book stand out. They convey a sense of humor that even adults can enjoy - we love when McDuff gives the baby squinty looks! We read every night but McDuff and the Baby is the only book that she will sit all the way through - smiling at every page. We look forward to more McDuff books!

I loved this book! I bought it for my niece because I have aWestie. The illustrations compliment the story extremely well. Youcan really tell that the writer and illustrator both own Westies! I recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs, especially little McDuffs.

I began reading McDuff and the Baby to my son when he was 4 days old and he is now 13 months and it is still his hands-down favorite. We have purchased all of the McDuff books and the character has captured all of our hearts. I strongly recommend this book and the others in the series to all parents who want their children to love reading!

We have been reading a lot of books by Rosemary Wells and McDUFF AND THE BABY is our favorite book. Nicole liked the part when McDuff met the baby because it made her feel happy. Anthony B. liked the part when McDuff growled at the baby and the baby was scared. Megan liked the part when McDuff said WOOF at the baby and the baby WOOFED back. She was happy that McDuff had someone to play with. Tilly's favorite part was when McDuff squinted his eyes at the baby and the baby laughed.

The McDuff series is famous for both its lovable dogdy hero, and its uncanny re-creation of late 1940's America. From architecture to fashion to cultural mores, author Rosemary Wells' books are superb period pieces. With the irrepressible McDuff at the center, the series has something for adults as well as youngsters.

Unfortunately, many of the original books have been replaced by "new design" versions: The illustrations have fewer details, and the books don't evoke place (small town America--perhaps New England) and time as well. However, this particular "new design" book comes closer to the original versions than some others (e.g., "McDuff's Wild Romp"). One sees more shading and detail in McDuff's fur, for example, and the pictoorial style and color selection do justice to the series.

In "McDuff and the Baby," the comfortably ensconced dog is challenged by the arrival of Fred and Lucy's new baby girl. (When I read those names, I often wonder if Desi and Ethel can be far behind, testimony, perhaps, to the book's nostalgic tone.) Like most babies, this one requires a great deal of attention, and McDuff soon finds that his usual routines must make way for the new addition. No more walks in the animal-scented woods (the stroller cannot negotiate it), no more late evening family radio time (the baby is crying for something), not even Fred--a la Fiorella LaGuardia--reading the comics to him at breakfast. The baby just laughs and McDuff's growls, and, to add injury to insult, she pulls on his beard!

McDuff is so upset that he doesn't eat. He doesn't decide not to eat, he's not manipulative, he's just vey upset. (One reviewer here believes that McDuff' serves as a bad role model for kids trying to deal with sibling rivalry.) In any event, Fred and Lucy realize (finally) that McDuff's loss of appetite might be due to all the changes. They decide to get him back into the woods, read the comics, take the entire family outside to listen to the radio (a wonderful example of compromise and adaptation), and even treat McDuff to "his favorite treat of vanilla rice pudding with sausage slice." Things smooth over very nicely, and there's a very brief but funny exchange that closes the story:

"'Woof,' said McDuff.
`Woof,' said the baby."

This is an excellent book whether your little one is dealing with new sibs or not. While this is the "new design" version, I think illustrator Jeffers equals (or comes very close to) her earlier work, and the narrative flows easily, with style and humor.

(Note: For an example of what you're missing with the 2006 new design, go to "Look Inside" above, click on "Copyright" and you'll see a beautiful overview of the town, not included in this 2006 version.)

What a great little book, when my baby nephew came down to visit us this past Thanksgiving he loved playing with our sweet West highland terriers, and now when ever his daddy reads him this book he will point to the artfully crafted pictures and Say "Nellie, Nellie!!!", which is the name of one of my dogs he really took to. It's a great book, and I hope you enjoy it.

We have a West Highland White Terrier so we love all the McDuff books. This one is a particular favorite since we had our dog before we had our baby.

I found this title in the new-books section of the local library and my son--11 months old-- wanted this book read over and over. He loved to hear me read, "Woof!" The story and art talk to all five senses. If you read this book and like it, you must read the other two McDuff books as soon as you can get your hands on them. Why? Reading about McDuff's favorite, "sausages and vanilla rice pudding," will make you restless until you can taste some yourself!

McDuff and the Baby is one of the best in this series of books . Rosemary Wells story telling is perfect for young children and Susan Jeffers is the master of doggie expressions. My entire first grade class giggled when "McDuff gave the baby terrible squinting looks". The children made many text to self connections regarding the feeling of having a new sibling in the house. The ending is charming. I am making it my mission to own the entire series. This is difficult because most, if not all the McDuff books are out of print. If you are reading this Wells and Jeffers PLEASE WRITE MORE McDuff books.

This book was great! I have a terrier and love how perfectly the authors have captured the personality and looks of the Westie. My baby loves this book, he flips the pages and laughs incessantly at the artwork. Anyone who over-analyzes this book and says that it will make your children "passive-aggressive" has entirely missed the point of the books and shouldn't be reading children's literature. Enjoy McDuff!