Merci Mister Dash!

by Monica Kulling, Esperança Melo (Illustrator)

Overview

Mr. Dash may not have a pedigree (he can count five different breeds of dogs as family), but from his furry head to his wagging tail, he is a gentleman. His fine manners make him a perfect companion to Madame Croissant. Their life together is graceful and civilized, what with walks in the park, stamp-collecting, and a passion for flowers.

But the well-ordered household is turned on its head whenever Madame Croissant’s granddaughter, Daphne, comes to visit. She’s as wild as Mr. Dash is courtly, and she makes the poor dog’s life miserable. But when she finds herself in real trouble, Mr. Dash proves that he is not only well-mannered but as brave as any knight.

Merci Mister Dash! is not only a hilarious salute to common courtesy, it will appeal to dog lovers and to anyone who is trying to civilize an untamed creature – of any kind.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780887769641
Publisher:	Tundra
Publication date:	04/12/2011
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

MONICA KULLING was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. A poet, she has also published many books for children. Best known for her clear and engaging biographies, she has tackled subjects ranging from Harriet Tubman and Eleanor Roosevelt to Harry Houdini. Her books It’s A Snap! George Eastman’s First Photograph and All Aboard! Elijah McCoy’s Steam Engine, illustrated by Bill Slavin, were the first two books in Tundra’s Great Idea Series. Monica Kulling lives in Toronto, Ontario.

ESPERANÇA MELO was born in the Azores, but she currently lives in Millbrook, Ontario. She is a graduate of Sheridan College’s Animation Program and the Graphic Design Program at George Brown College. She also studied oil painting, life drawing, and sculpture at the Ontario College of Art. She has been a graphic and book designer for several years and has illustrated various children’s books. Her picture book Drumheller Dinosaur Dance, which she co-illustrated with Bill Slavin, was the recipient of the Ontario Library Association’s Blue Spruce Award and the Chocolate Lily Award.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Merci Mister Dash! by Monica Kulling, illustrated by Esperança Melo:

“…Brightly colored acrylic paintings show Mr. Dash at his best….”
–Kirkus Reviews


PRAISE FOR IT’S A SNAP!:
“Monica Kulling’s charming It’s a Snap! … tells Eastman’s story with panache…. This is terrific storytelling that will work as a read aloud in any class.”
– Curriculum Connections, School Library Journal

“This first book in the Great Idea Series is a picture-perfect introduction to biographies for beginning readers.”
– Excellent, Resource Links

“…an inspirational biographic introduction to George Eastman’s fantastic adventures in photography….”
– Canadian Children’s Book News

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 1—Mister Dash is "unlike any hound in town." Not only does he seem to be an amalgamation of numerous breeds, but he also wears a waistcoat and reads the paper. He enjoys a quiet life with his owner, shopkeeper Madame Croissant. She likes gardening and collecting stamps, while he enjoys sleeping and showing off his fine manners. But each Sunday his world is turned topsy-turvy with the arrival of Madame Croissant's boisterous granddaughter. She gets on the dog's nerves, and he does his best to avoid her. However, one Sunday he cannot escape, which proves fortuitous when he saves her from an accident involving a runaway Radio Flyer and a crack in the sidewalk. Whether this leads to an improvement in their relationship is not clear, because the book ends with Mister Dash thinking about how nice the following day will be without Daphne around. The acrylic illustrations humorously portray the dog's irritation as well as Daphne's age-appropriate enthusiasm, but otherwise fail to lift the story beyond the framework provided by the text.—Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA

School Library Journal