Shaggy Dog and the Terrible Itch - Hardcover

David Bedford has a doctorate in biology and worked as a biologist in his native England and America before turning to his first love, which is writing children's books. He is married and has a baby daughter.

Gwyneth Williamson worked as a greeting cards artist in England for several years before turning to children's book illustration. She is married and has two young daughters.

reS-Gr 2-Shaggy Dog needs the help of his friends to relieve an awful itch. Before Farmer Gertie will comply with his scratching request, however, the pup must help her round up the sheep. Gertie uses her crook to scratch his back, but relief is only short-lived. The canine heads into town, where he washes pots and pans at Merv's Caf‚ and sweeps up the floor of Mary Lou's Poodle Parlor in exchange for back scratches. When the itch returns, the owner decides that the dog could benefit from a wash and trim, much to the chagrin of the snobby poodle customers. Williamson's bright, playful watercolor cartoons offer many visual jokes-from the well-coiffed poodles dunking dog biscuits in their tea to the tiny flea floating inside a bubble. Children will delight in the final double-spread illustration, which answers the question, "The itch had gone at last-but where did it go?" and supplies the punch line. The patterned text lends itself to reading aloud and is lighthearted fun.

Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.