That New Animal [Hardcover]

Emily Jenkins (Author), Pierre Pratt (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

A new baby changes everything . . . for two dogs

FudgeFudge does not like that new animal. Marshmallow does not like it either. Not even a little bit. So begins this forthright, hilarious, and boldly illustrated story about two dogs that see the arrival of a new baby as a huge problem. They don't like the way that new animal smells or the way the people just sit and stare at it, forgetting all about FudgeFudge and Marshmallow. They have to do something about it, but what? Then one morning a stranger named Grandpa arrives, and he wants to hold that new animal. Instantly FudgeFudge and Marshmallow know they can't allow that. Why? they ask each other. Because, by now, that new animal has become their new animal.

A picture book that speaks with wise and knowing humor to every parent and child who has welcomed or resisted an addition to the family.

 

That New Animal is a 2005 Boston Globe - Horn Book Award Honor Book for Picture Books.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 1–This delightful twist on the frequently explored topic of pets displaced by infants will tickle children's funny bones. The story is told from the points of view of the descriptively named Marshmallow and FudgeFudge. This doggie duo dislikes the intruder in their home, whom they refer to as "that new animal." While their people once used to dote on them, they now devote precious play and belly-scratching time to that funny-smelling newborn. When their humans even dare to scold the two for whining and barking, FudgeFudge comes up with a number of solutions to get rid of the newcomer. She suggests eating it, burying it with their bones, and lying on top of it, but settles for chewing up a few books and dolls. Tired of being the pair's more mature voice of reason, Marshmallow expresses his displeasure by peeing on the carpet. A visit from Grandpa puts matters in a new light as the suddenly protective dogs reason that "It is our new animal to hate as much as we want to," but Grandpa better not try to pick up the baby. Both the author and illustrator demonstrate wonderful insight into pet psychology and family dynamics, and the elongated style of the vibrantly colored artwork strikes just the right note of humor and whimsy.–Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA

From Booklist

PreS-K. That new animal the dogs Marshmallow and FudgeFudge smell is the baby. They are not impressed. He can't bark or roll over, and they resent the fact that he fascinates their owners. Rather alarmingly, FudgeFudge suggests they bite the baby, but Marshmallow puts his paw down. To show his displeasure, however, FudgeFudge pees on the carpet. From this unfortunate beginning, a new relationship arises. Eventually, the baby gets older, and learns to toss a stick, say "da" for "dog," and loses the new animal smell. The new baby scenario gets an amusing twist as the elementally shaped dogs take on the roles often assigned to older siblings. The displaced dogs say some things that might raise eyebrows: FudgeFudge wants to bury the baby like a bone. Fortunately, there's enough humor in the artwork to soften what might rub the wrong way. The characters have the look of carved figures, and none are conventionally attractive--not even the baby. The art complements the text's -ironic tone, which may go over the heads of young preschoolers. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (February 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374374430
• ISBN-13: 978-0374374433
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,202 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I write stories for children and adults. Picture books, middle-grade books, and novels. And a long time ago, personal essays.

I can be reached on the web at www.emilyjenkins.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and True to Life, November 3, 2005

By 

Leslie Gerkens (Buena Park, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: That New Animal (Hardcover)

This book made my husband and I laugh out loud as he read it to our 3 year old daughter. She loves it, too. If you had dogs, then had a baby, you need this book. Now we know what our dogs were really thinking. A children's book that is charming without being sappy.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ADJUSTMENTS, ADJUSTMENTS ! IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING., March 21, 2005

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: That New Animal (Hardcover)

FudgeFudge and Marshmallow ruled the roost, more or less. They received a great deal of attention from the man and woman to whom they belonged, so basically they were two happy dogs. That is until a new animal came to live at their house. They do not like this intruder one bit.

For starters, he didn't smell at all like a dog, and people didn't play with them any more - no sticks to chase or tossed balls to run after. People just sat and looked at the new animal. The intruder took FudgeFudge's spot on the couch, and no one even noticed that Marshmallow was showing his tummy, ready to be scratched.

To add insult to injury, when Marshmallow whines, someone tells him to be quiet. And, when FudgeFudge barks, he's sent to the corner. But, when the new animal cries it is cuddled and kissed. How ridiculous!

Of course, the new animal is a baby. The two dogs simply do not know how to deal with this member of the family. It takes a visit from Grandpa to straighten things out.
Youngsters will laugh at the dogs' reaction to the baby, and many will probably relate to the changes that occur when a new person joins the family.

- Gail Cooke

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing details spoil what could have been a cute story, December 26, 2010

By 

Purple Strawberry (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: That New Animal (Hardcover)

My 3 year old son LOVES this book. The idea of the book is great, complete with kid-attention-grabbing "peeing all over the floor" however there are a number of details in this book which are kind of disturbing and not well-chosen. In one place the dogs discuss whether or not they should bite the new baby and in another place they consider the idea of burying (presumably alive) the baby in the backyard with the bones. Uh huh. There are two parts that will make anyone who has been affected by SIDS or who is just concerned about it VERY disturbed: In one picture the parents are depicted using an extremly unsafe sleeping environment-- both parents are asleep in their bed and the mom has the baby asleep on her stomach. In another part one of the dogs climbs into the cradle and is practically smothering the baby.