“Bark, George,” by Jules Feiffer.
Harper Collins, New York, 1998, 32 pages, Grades preschool - 1.
Wordless and nearly-wordless picture books need to have outstanding art to keep the attention of Kindergarteners. Really outstanding picture books of this genre need to have fine plots. Since there are so few words in the story, the pictures must carry most of the action. Though adults actually enjoy “reading” wordless and nearly wordless picture books, youngsters take great delight in these books. Jules Feiffer has created such a picture book. Additionally, this picture book happens to be extremely funny. Young children will relish the zany problems that the young puppy encounters and his mother’s attempts to solve these problems. The name of this witty book is “Bark, George.”
George is a normal puppy living happily with his mother. She decides that it is time to begin teaching George some lessons. The first lesson is about barking. George’s mother commands him to bark. George tries with all of his might to bark. Unfortunately, the sound that comes out is not a dog’s sound. It is meow. The mother looks stunned at the puppy’s response. She carefully tells him that dog’s do not make the meow sound, because that is the sound that cats make. Dogs are supposed to make an “arf” sound. Having instructed George on proper barking, she commands him to bark. George tries with all of his might but can only produce a “quack, quack.” Mama grimaces upon hearing George quacking like a duck and again tells him that dogs bark by saying “arf.”
Confounded by George’s problems, she tells him again what dogs are supposed to say and orders him to bark. This time George oinks like a pig. The mother dog lays on the ground in near despair and George continues to try to bark. But unfortunately, he now makes a mooing sound like a cow. In complete frustration, mother calls a veterinarian to find out what is the problem with George. He starts with the same commands that mother had previously tried with the puppy. He too is staggered when George starts meowing, quacking, oinking and mooing. But the vet is a seasoned animal doctor and comes up with a new method to examine George. He pulls a rubber glove on all the way to his elbow. Next, he tells George to open his mouth. Then he begins to examine George. What happens next?
Does the veterinarian find out why George is making all of these different animal sounds? What is making all of these sounds? What facial expressions does George’s mother make throughout the book? What happens to the vet? How is the conclusion of this book so delightful? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out “Bark, George” by Jules Feiffer.
If you want to share a charming reading experience with a younger member of your family, this is the book to use. The drawings are funny and George’s attempts to bark are comical. Younger children and adults need to read books that are enjoyable. “Bark, George” is one such book. I hope you take the opportunity to check this book out. You will have a pleasant time reading it with one of your younger family members. Have fun, I did!
