Dude: Fun with Dude and Betty

by Lisa Pliscou, Tom Dunne (Illustrator)

Whoa! Dude! Learning to read surf-speak has never been so easy, or so much fun! It's, like, totally radical! (If you need a little extra help, check out the non-bogus glossary at the back of the book.) For beach boys and surfer girls of all ages.

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Friendship

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

I write books for children and adults. My latest, from Macmillan: BRAVE JANE AUSTEN: Reader, Writer, Author, Rebel, a picture-book biography.

Reviews

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Surf, Dude, surf!" As the marketing for this book says, learning to read surf-speak has never been so non-bogus. Join Dude, Betty, and Dude’s most excellent dog, Bud, in this primer for beach boys and surfer girls of all ages (though I suspect the older set might take more wicked delight in this one than the mini-groms). You’ll laugh, you’ll boogie, but you most definitely will not want to bail on Dude before catching some gnarly waves.

Get stoked!

Seriously, though, Dude: Fun with Dude and Betty is ridiculous fun. Maybe I laugh so hard because I'm from California, but the artwork (Tom Dunne) is fabulous and the copy (Lisa Pliscou) is a riot. Check it out for kids learning to read and any Californians you might know that have a sense of humor -- or for any California transplants who still might need some help deciphering the local lingo.

Please note that this isn't an entirely impartial review, as this book factors in to my professional world, but I'm still writing an assessment in my personal space, so weight my opinion as you will.

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious parody of the Dick and Jane books. Includes a glossary of surfer terms in the back.

[Wendy Kuzma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is written in the format of Dick and Jane books with a surfer twist. It is a fun read for those of us who grew up in the 80s! I suddenly feel the need to re-watch Encino Man and Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure! :)

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

DUDE! Why you harshing on my mellow?

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retro and funny--

[Mr. George The Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dude, this is amazing. What a fun journey to Cali....sorry, it is funny cause it is true. I am going to read this for my summer reading club promos in my Spicoli voice. Narly

[Aubrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Old school Dick & Jane style book that is so terrible it makes you laugh. Dude surfs gnarly waves while Betty gets a “totally rad tan” while laying out... Funny slang with a glossary, I would let middle grade students read for a “righteous” laugh.

[Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

hilarious.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like, most excellent, dude!

[Miss Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, silly Chapter book. A spoof on a Dick and Jane book, but with Surfer Dudes.

[Michael Guillot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hahahahahahahaha
Best I've read all day
Totally gnarly
Needed this
Will be reading this at storytime in the Bill & Ted voice

[Raw Fresh Garlic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iconic.

[Courtney Pankrat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hilarious!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me laugh soooo much, but I think it was unintentionally funny. The point of this book is to introduce kids to West Coast slang like "gnarly" & "harshin' on [somebody's] mellow." Omg "harshin' on [somebody's] mellow" is my newest favorite phrase by the way.

I had trouble deciding whether or not this book fell squarely into a children's genre. I don't envy the librarians who have to make this difficult decision either. It straddles a fine line between mockery of classic "Dick and Jane" fiction & actual juvenile fiction. While the book isn't explicitly adult-rated humor disguised as juvenile literature à la Adam Mansbach's Go the Fuck to Sleep , it feels too tongue-in-cheek for it to be taken seriously. Yet, there's a legit glossary in the back of the book…? I don't even know, friends.

Maybe that's the book's genius though, that it can serve equal parts kids' lit and adult humor. I mean, it doesn't cover any profound themes or messages, so it can't be too definitively a children's book, right? I don't know. In the end it's funny, and I'm sure it will make your child laugh too. Posin' like a "rad surf bunny" while reading is bound to make anybody laugh.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suspect that the brilliants of this book will probably go right over kids' heads. But as a grown-up who totally gets that this is a parody of the classic, propper Dick and Jane books...this is pretty funny. It's so awful that you can't help but find it awesomely hilarious, filled with such lines as, "Look at Dude surf. Surf, Dude, surf!" and "Bud is harshing on Dude's mellow." What's not to love?

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Dick and Jane books as much as the next lass, but this one landed in the uncomfortable area where I can't tell whether it's a joke or serious. JK, I reread it, and

Best line: "Betty is a righteous surf bunny. She does *not* live in the valley."

Nope, I take that back. "See Betty soak up rays. What a totally rad tan, Betty."

Also: "Most heinous, Bud!" "What a non-bogus babe Betty is."

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I had so much fun reading this! It was a silly take on the Dick and Jane stories, with the same result. Of course, instead of reading about Spot running, we learn how to read about Betty being a righteous surfer chick. So, my son now recognizes the work "righteous." Which I think is, well, righteous.

[Dona Gay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute, oh and gnarly. Brought back memories of the cottages at Gilbert Elementary School. Mrs. Pew's first grade classroom. Oh how I loved those Dick and Jane books. My friend Lauren swears that Dick and Jane returned as Mom and Dad in this soon-to-be-classic early reader but weren't Dick and Jane brother and sister? Clearly more research is needed.

[Leslie Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dude Fun with Dude and Betty by Lisa Pliscou 2011. This realistic fiction book is about a guy who goes surfing for the day. Discourse is updated teen language with illustrations from the 1970's. Interesting combo.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful picture book is a play-on those old Dick and Jane books, but much more fun!

[Kyra Fowler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of slang words. This would be a fun book to read to young students. Plus, there is a glossary at the end to define all the words.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book totally didn't harsh my mellow. Stokaboka!!

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would never really want my kids to read this. I think it's definitely ridiculous.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a totally awesome Dick and Jane update!

[Yara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun easy reader with surfer lingo, with a glossary in the back.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is totally bodacious!

[Christina D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The entire family enjoyed reading it!

[Joann · Rating 3 out of 5]

laugh out loud fun

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa!! This is the best beginning reader I have seen in like forever. I totally wish I had a stylin' cruisemobile!

[Beth Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who grew up or spent time in California surf culture will get a kick out of this spin on Dick & Jane. Bodacious read.