Category: (Book)
28 new, starting at $2.43
14 used, starting at $2.21
Widget and the GirlsReviewed by Celeste, 2009-11-25
This is a fun book to read with children who like cats and dogs. Little readers understand the humor and grown ups will also find this book funny. We love all the McDuff, Sally, and Carl books. Widget is our newest interest. Our family really loves it!
We love Widget!Reviewed by S. Montgomery, 2009-06-27
Widget is a wonderful book, building up to many fun surprises. The text is clever, yet simple enough that my beginning reader can (and willingly does) read it, and she enjoys sharing it with the adults in her life. It is a much-needed alternative to the many i-can-read series out there. The illustrations enhance the story. We love Widget, and it will stay in our permanent collection.
Great readaloud for dog storyhour, friends storyhourReviewed by Travis Ann Sherman, 2008-12-06
This book is a real crowd pleaser for storyhour. It has all the elements: a poor hungry dog with no home and no one to love him, six cats, a kindly old lady, lots of barking and meowing, and just enough plot. Find it on your shelf and use it today.
Meow, puff, puff, hiss, hiss, spit, spitReviewed by Judy K. Polhemus, 2007-12-05
I was working the reference desk one evening in my local branch
library. It was time to make my rounds to pick up stray books to
reshelve. I found "Widget," more than a stray book, a stray dog. I
took it to the counter to look at it (always on the prowl for
children's books to use in my day job as a children's librarian).
After the first few pages I started howling aloud with laughter. A
co-worker came over to investigate. She, too, started howling
because I turned back to the front and we read it together. We
laughed until tears rolled and bellies hurt. (This is a working
library where people are allowed to talk quietly; our noise did not
disturb.)
I checked out the book and took it next day and read it to first
and third grades, my classes for the day. I continued that week
until I had read it to grades K-5. They all loved it. One class
even wanted me to read it again and I did.
What is so funny? So delightful? Widget is a little stray, a Westie
another reviewer said, who finds a cat door one cold evening,
wanders in, finds six bowls of food, and six beds on the floor. The
lady of the house, Mrs. Diggs feels sorry for the little dog and
says he could stay except for the six cats who would be unhappy
with a dog. He says, "Meow." The six girls puff up. Widget puffs
up. The girls hiss and spit. Widget hisses and spits. If you are a
cat person, you can imagine this cat behavior and a dog imitating
it. And you can imagine the hilarity of seeing the fabulous
illustrations that go with these behaviors. Mr. McFarland obviously
knows cats to get these behaviors so perfectly. And their faces!
Each cat has a different personality!
Other reviewers covered the rest of the story. What I want to share
is the joy and recognition of cat behavior, great artwork, a clever
story, and the moral of adaptive behavior and true personality. I
told my library children that this is one of my new favorite books.
After our copy came in, it stays checked out, with children asking
for it. It is one of their new favorites, too.
Compassion with four pawsReviewed by G. C. Harris, 2007-01-18
Absolutely darling. Widget saves the day after being saved himself. Its cute to see what he'll do to stay with the little lady and her funny cats. The story is great and the drawings are wonderful. Great for reading to all youngsters.
