Martha Speaks (book)
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| Author | Susan Meddaugh |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Meddaugh |
| Series | Martha Speaks |
| Genre | Children's picture book |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |
Publication date | September 1992[1] |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Paper |
| Pages | 35 pp |
| Followed by | Martha and Skits |
Martha Speaks is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Susan Meddaugh, published by Houghton Mifflin in 1992. It is the first in a series of six books featuring a young girl's pet dog named Martha.
Plot
The book follows the adventures of a ten-year-old girl named Helen Finney, who fed her dog Martha some alphabet soup and something very mysterious occurred. When the letters got into her throat, they lost their way, so they traveled to her brain instead of her stomach. This gave Martha the ability to speak. But when the family complains about Martha talking too much, Martha didn't talk to anyone. After this, she didn't eat a bowl of alphabet soup for days, but when a burglar tries to rob her house, Helen gave Martha some alphabet soup. She ate the soup and got the ability to speak again. The family appreciates Martha for saving their home. Martha learned to say stuff and the right time to say them. And sometimes, Martha didn't say anything at all, but just for a few minutes.
Reception
The Horn Book Magazine said the book was "Good-natured and amusing, with cheerful illustrations"[2] and Patricia Tauzer writing for Common Sense Media wrote in a four star (out of five) review that, "the story is clever."[3]
References
- ^ "Barnes & Noble – Used Book Search Results – Martha Speaks – Susan Meddaugh – Hardcover". Retrieved August 5, 2009.
- ^ A.A.F. (1993). Martha Speaks. Horn Book Magazine, 69(1), 76. Retrieved from Ebsco.
- ^ Tauzer, Patricia. "Martha Speaks - Book Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved November 11, 2018.