Meet the Barkers: Morgan and Moffat Go to School [Paperback]

Tomie dePaola (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Morgie and Moffie can't wait to start school! They buy backpacks and pencil boxes, and off they go. Moffie, who knows the answers to all of the teacher's questions, gets a lot of gold stars. And Morgie, who likes sharing his dinosaur book, makes two new friends. But by the end of the week Morgie and Moffie help each other to understand that it's important to both get gold stars and make new friends. And they agree that they love school!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Morgan and Moffat, the Barker twins, are excited for school to start. Once there, Moffie sets out to earn as many gold stars as possible, while the more laid-back Morgie quietly goes about making firm friends with a few classmates. But after a few days, Moffie is given a gentle lecture from the teacher, who asks her to give other kids a chance to answer questions. Suddenly she realizes she's been so busy collecting stars, she hasn't made any friends yet. "I'll get gold stars and Morgie can get friends," she thinks. But then Morgie's time in the sun (or stars) finally arrives, when the teacher asks a question he can most definitely answer. By the end of the first week, both Morgie and Moffie have friends and stars--and they are in complete agreement about one thing: "We LOVE school!"

Tomie de Paola modeled Morgie and Moffie after two of his four charismatic Welsh terriers. De Paola, the Newbery Honor author/illustrator of 26 Fairmount Avenue and many other well-loved children's books, captures the drama and dilemmas of school and illustrates the best way to find a balance between friendships and studies. His understated, humorous text is accompanied by highly appealing illustrations of the young pups in acrylic on handmade watercolor paper. Here is the perfect first-day-of-school book for the little Morgies and Moffies in every classroom. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

In DePaola's (26 Fairmount Avenue) first book in a planned series, inspired by dePaola's beloved English terriers, excitement builds for twin pups Morgan and Moffat Barker as their first day of school approaches. Moffie, who was born 10 minutes ahead of her brother Morgie, takes her role as the "oldest" to heart, acting bossy, competitive and precocious. Her over-achieving manner initially earns her plenty of gold stars in Ms. Shepherd's class, but few friends. Morgie, meanwhile, finds his own understated ways to shine and makes several pals along the way. Before long, the siblings learn a few valuable lessons from each other and come to agree on one important thing: they love school. DePaola's text introduces two amusing foils in Moffie and Morgie, but the story loses its delicate balance of humor and heart when Moffie's bratty behavior temporarily monopolizes the plot. Unfortunately, a few rough transitions trip up the story's rhythm and detract from the sweet denouement. Still, many of the situations here will strike a chord with young children and their parents and dePaola's sunny, gently humorous acrylic paintings are as winning as ever. Ages 4-7.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin; Reprint edition (July 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142500836
• ISBN-13: 978-0142500835
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #723,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > First Day of School

More About the Author

"Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.
It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books.
He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his ""singular attainment in children's literature,"" the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his ""continued distinguished contribution,"" and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.
Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year.
Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.
- He has been published for over 30 years.
- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.
- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.
- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.
Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition for his books in the children's book world, including:
- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association
- Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association
- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution
- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal
- Regina Medal from Catholic Library Association

"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Winner from Tomie dePaola, August 3, 2001

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meet the Barkers: Morgan & Moffat Go to School (Barkers) (Hardcover)

Though twins, Morgan and Moffat Barker couldn't be more different. Moffie, the oldest by ten minutes is an over achiever with a real Type A personality, bossy, critical and competitive. Her brother, Morgie, is a laid back, go with the flow kind of guy who likes everyone. So when they start school, it isn't surprising that Moffie racks up the gold stars, shouting answers and always having to be the best, while Morgie, eases into the class. He's not getting any gold stars, but he's making lots of new friends. As the first week progresses, their teacher has a quiet little talk with Moffie, asking her not to shout out all the answers, wait her turn and give others a chance. "Now run along and play with your friends." And that's when it hits Moffie. She's been so busy being the best student, she hasn't made any friends and goes off to find her brother. But, with a little encouragement from each other, the twins soon learn it's possible to have gold stars and friends, too..... Tomie dePaola has done it again, written a simple, charming story with a gentle message that won't be lost on young students. His expressive, humorous and familiar artwork complements the text beautifully and children will delight in watching this lovable pair work their way through school shopping and their first week as new students. Perfect for early readers or as a family read aloud story, Meet the Barkers is hopefully the start of another terrific dePaola series and a picture book your kids will want to read again and again.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's School Time, July 20, 2001

By 

M. Canzonire (Baton Rouge, LA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Meet the Barkers: Morgan & Moffat Go to School (Barkers) (Hardcover)

As always, Tomie DePaola does it very well in this book. It is just in time for school and holds the young reader's interest in his own "fascinating way". Our granddaughter, 8 years old loves reading and reading all of DePaola'a books. This one is very special to her - she loves school and loves to read about adventures at school.

4.0 out of 5 stars Meet the Barkers, October 12, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Meet the Barkers: Morgan and Moffat Go to School (Paperback)

Tomie Depoalo wrote the book Meet the Bakers. Some of the main characters are Moffat, Mogan, Mom and Ms. Shepard.
First, there were two twins, a brother and sister named Moffat and Morgan. They were getting ready to start kindergarten. Moffat was born first so she was the boss. Then, the kids had to go shopping for school stuff. Next, they go to school. On their first day moffat got a gold star and morgan met a friend Billy. Fourth, they go home and tell their mom how it was. Finally, Moffat meets a friend and morgan got a gold star.Then they went home and told their mom that they loved school.
I liked this book because it reminds me of when I was in kindergarten. I think my brothers would like it because they are in kindergarten.