Perfectly Martha

Martha Speaks

by Susan Meddaugh

What do people really want from a dog? When Otis Weaselgraft opens up his Perfect Pup Institute, promising to train even the most drooling, barking, scratching, squirrel-chasing dog to be perfectly obedient in only three steps, Martha smells a rat. She knows dogs are already perfect. But Weaselgraft claims he can make man’s best friend even better. Word of his amazing program spreads through the neighborhood—soon half the dogs in town are enrolled at the Perfect Pup Institute. But there’s something strange about the Perfect Pup graduates, and Martha is determined to find out what it is . . .

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Mystery

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 29, 2004

About the author

Susan Meddaugh was born and raised in Montclair, New Jersey. She graduated from Wheaton College, where she studied French literature and fine arts. After working briefly with an advertising agency in New York, she moved to Boston and worked at a publishing company for ten years, first as a designer, then art editor, and finally as art director. While there, she did the illustrations for Good Stones (Houghton Mifflin) by Anne Epstein, and then decided to strike out on her own as a freelance illustrator and creator of children's books. Since that time, Susan has written and illustrated many popular books for children, including Martha Speaks, which was chosen as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book for 1992. In 1998 she was awarded the New England Book Award, given by the New England Booksellers Association to recognize a body of work. Her work also was acknowledged with a New York Times Best Illustrated Award. She lives in Sherborn, Massachusetts. - from HMHBooks.com

Susan Meddaugh, a New England Book Award Winner, adores Halloween and calls it "THE major Holiday" in her household, in part, she says "because it's the only time in the year when you get to be someone else." - from Candlewick.com

Reviews

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Perfectly Martha" by Susan Meddaugh follows the humorous and mischievous storyline of a talking dog named Martha, who cheekily is able to talk because of her daily dose of alphabet soup. The plot progresses as the reader follows the journey of Martha and her dog friend Skits, as they stumble upon the unethical works of a man running a dog training business. The beautifully illustrated picture book humorously takes the reader on a fictional journey through the eyes of curious dogs!

The major theme(s) of "Perfectly Martha" by Susan Meddaugh are:
1. Humor: the funny and witty situations / circumstances the dogs put themselves in,
2. Mischievousness: how the dogs seek out the secrets and lies within the unethical practices of a dog training business.

I presented "Perfectly Martha" by Susan Meddaugh with a 4/5 star rating, because although I genuinely loved the humor and wit of the read, I felt too much content was being crammed into such a short picture book. I felt the plot took a chaotic turn, that made it slightly more difficult for the reader to follow along. If used in a classroom setting, the book would require "read-aloud questions and comments" so the students are present within the storyline. I feel the book was a fun and creative read that I would pick up again!

After reading"Perfectly Martha" by Susan Meddaugh, I personally got a few chuckles out of the storyline. I have found sometimes the "outlandishness' or the 'ridiculousness' of a fictional plot can bring such whimsy to literature. I loved watching the journey of Martha and Skits as they unfold the truth about the dog training business. Personally, it is a book I would read again.

I recommend this book for its whimsy, its humor, and its fun suspense. I think specifically, this would be a great read for upper elementary. As a future educator, I would keep this read in the "Mystery" section of my classroom library. Although maybe too complex for younger audiences, I see upper elementary students really enjoying the humor of this fictional tale!

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Martha gets kidnapped but then saves the day!

Ages: 4 - 8

Cleanliness: There is a comment about how it's maybe nicer having dogs that don't always obey than having robots; so maybe a quick comment of clarification to the kids that that ideology doesn't transfer to them. ;)

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!

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[Maudie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre:Modern Fantasy
Grade:3-5
Thinks book is funny and cute and has a lot of little cute speech bubbles that allows you to "see" into the dogs mind. I love this book I am familiar with the TV show Martha speaks and to have it in book form is amazing.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sinister Otis Weaslegraft has a plan to make every dog in town into perfect pups, but Martha is out to solve the mystery behind the three-step training program, and expose Weaslegraft for what he truly is.

[Antoinette Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about a dog named Martha who eats a bowl of alphabet soup and finds that she can talk because of it. I thought this book was very cute, well-written, and very well-illustrated. I thought that the idea for this book was very creative and humorous. Due to the story being about dogs and dogs talking, children would really enjoy this book and be fully engaged with it. Perfectly Martha is easy to read and would make a great book for younger readers who are just beginning to read.
Perfectly Martha would make an excellent book to read aloud to students and create various activities that students could have fun with. The illustrations were bright and imaginative and were done in Agile ink and watercolor. These illustrations helped to bring the story to life and were so well-done that the illustrations could tell the story all on their own.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this Martha adventure, Martha encounters too obedient dogs whose brains are being altered by a money hungry salesman con-man, Otis Weaselgraft, and his buddy, Dr. Pablum, who have created a RoboRover Brain Blocking Microchipped collar. They have done this so that their dog obedience school can become a success and so they can make money. When Dr. Pablum discovers that Martha can talk, he immediately begins seeing dollar signs. Martha makes a deal with Dr. Pablum. As a consequence, Otis Weaselgraft ends up collared, which is funny. Not believing Martha when she tells him that she can talk because of soup, Dr. Pablum leaves town for another place to con.

[Edward Creter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Message to the socalled "Dog Whisperer: read this book and smell what crap you made with your life. When Martha the talking dog investigates claims that a scientist can calm a dog thru obedience technology and mind control, she herself almost ends up in big trouble when a helper locks her away and plans to use her vocal stylings for his own monetary gain. BAD HUMAN! (And Dog Whisperer, this means YOU! Word of advice: try actually whispering instead of controlling, and show affection w/o expecting "perfection.")

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book about Martha, a talking dog. We have seen "Martha Speaks" on PBS Kids, but haven't read too many of the books yet. In this tale, Martha uncovers a racket to make all dogs obedient robots. Sounds like a dog version of the The Stepford Wives...

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a new dog trainer in town, and it appears that he finally has the stuff to give pet owners exactly what they want. But, Martha thinks he is hiding something. Martha is ready to sniff up some clues and unravel the mystery of the Perfectly Behaved pups. A fun story filled with plenty of laughs. =)

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a cute book. The story is a nice way of showing how telling the truth is better then telling a lie. It teaches children that telling a lie is bad and people will find out in the end. I will put this in my classroom library and use it when teaching about telling the truth.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Martha series of books. I'm currently reading this one and will read it at least once a day until it's due back at the library. Or maybe even longer as kids' books don't accrue fines.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martha can speak and exposes a phoney dog trainer who invented a devise that blockes the thinking part of the brain

[RaeLene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture story: A book about a talking dog named Martha who is suspicious of a new dog trainer. The dogs obedience seem too good to be true.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess we're just not that into talking dogs, but this was a flub at our house.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martha solves the mystery of the dog trainers who make the dogs perfect.

[Brandon]

its fun and martha the dog is a very good helper and she help other pet like cats and other dogs ..!and help around the house he's living in..!





By;jarvarous Mckinstry <3

[Darian Schwerdtfeger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is very humorous and creative. Its is also well written and very well illustrated. Children would really enjoy this book because it is about a dog who talks.

[Alexandria K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Martha. She is so full of excitement sometimes.