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

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.

"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!

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!

I had the chance to purchase this book by Margaret Read MacDonald--one of my fav authors--at the National Storytelling Festival, and my granddaughter just loves it. So do I, because it communicates traditional values in a subtle way. And because the illustrations are gorgeous. I'm buying more to give to new parents in my church.