The Great Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Tooth Dog: A Folktale from Great Britain (Hardcover)

~ Margaret Read MacDonald (Author)
Key Phrases: single bound

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1—Every night, Billy tosses and turns in bed and kicks off the covers. His mama warns him that "the Belly Button Beastie is going to come and take your belly button right...out...of your...BELLY." Although the child is not afraid, young readers/listeners may find this prospect alarming. Furthermore, when the Beastie does appear, it is indeed quite beastly, portrayed in garish green and blue with a gaping mouth. The next morning, Billy drinks milk and the liquid gushes out of the hole in his abdomen. In the bathtub, soapy water pours in and soap bubbles float out. School friends plug the hole with bubblegum, string, tape, etc., but nothing works until someone suggests trying chocolate (the same brown color as Billy). That night, he tricks the monster into trading his belly button for the good-smelling chocolate substitute. After the boy searches through the Beastie's bag full of belly buttons to find his own, the switch is made. From then on, the creature pursues candy instead of belly buttons. The simple cartoon illustrations include several images that are disturbing and somewhat bizarre. Judy Sierra's Tasty Baby Belly Buttons (Knopf, 1999) and Olga Loya's "The Belly Button Monster," from More Ready-to-Tell Tales from Around the World (August House, 2000), are better versions of this story.—Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Description

A rich man is rescued from harm by a smelly, slobbery dog. As a reward, he asks for the man's beautiful daughter. In this tale from England, Margaret Read MacDonald puts a new spin on the classic story, Beauty and the Beast.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: August House (October 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874838088
• ISBN-13: 978-0874838084
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #723,599 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars what a great gift, November 8, 2009

By	Mom & kid readers - See all my reviews

This review is from: Billy Brown and the Belly Button Beastie (Hardcover)

My children and all the neighborhood kids loved this book. I even ordered it for my childrens librarian for christmas! The illustrations are so great everyone could not wait to see the Beastie on the next page.

5.0 out of 5 stars An imaginative retelling of a Beauty and the Beast British folk tale, August 21, 2009

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

"The Great Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Tooth Dog: A Folktale from Great Britain" is an imaginative retelling of a Beauty and the Beast British folk tale originally collected and retold in "A Dictionary of British Folk-Tales" by Katherine M. Briggs. Filled with brilliant tapestry-like full color illustrations, the children's tale moves swiftly to the sticking point. The familiar tale has fresh appeal in this version and the central message of the liberating nature of compassion overcoming the deception of appearances always enchants. Of particular interest in this book are the beautiful explanatory pictures of flowers and their meanings, on the inside pages and covers. Every beautiful illustration seems filled with luminous meaning "The Great Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Tooth Dog" is an artistic and literary triumph!

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome pictures, June 10, 2008

By	Kate W. (Baldwin, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Billy Brown and the Belly Button Beastie (Hardcover)

The story is very cute and clever. The artist did an amazing job of really bringing the story to life. The expressions on Billy Brown's face are wonderful. I hope to see more of this artist!