Moondog

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3–One September, when the moon is full, a basket is left on the McKenzie family's porch. In it is the "sweetest, most darling puppy anyone had ever seen." Michael and Hazel have always wanted a dog, and even their parents cannot resist this Angel of a pooch. This is no ordinary puppy, however. After he disappears one night, the children learn that he changes into a destructive werepup when the moon is full. They follow his tracks to the spooky house of old Miss Eleanor Mingle and her even scarier old dog, Bunny. Not only do Hazel and Michael gain an understanding of their special pup, but they also come to understand the old woman. Together they plan a party for the next full moon, which just happens to fall on Halloween. Miss Mingle is reintroduced to the townsfolk, the weredogs are (mostly) controlled by the concoction that she developed for them to eat, and all ends well. Though the theme of not judging by outward appearance is none too subtle and readers may question some of the internal logic, the story is fluidly told. Heo's appealing illustrations combine bold colors, intricate patterns, and varied perspectives. They go a long way in enhancing the pacing and tension and in making this unusual Halloween tale (mostly) satisfying.–Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at District of Columbia Public Library Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
PreS-Gr. 1. This gets off to a promising start: sparkly letters spelling out Moondog on the cover surround the face of a white terrier with small fangs. The story reads like a classic fairy tale: a basket with something inside is left on a doorstep; the dog in the basket is angelic. But one stormy night, the children hear a tremendous hubbub downstairs--and Angel is gone! At this point the story goes slightly off the rails with convoluted explanations. Angel is a moondog (he turns into a werewolf during a full moon), and a mysterious woman named Miss Mingle has kidnapped him so he can drink her stinky potion, which will stop him from developing his werewolf capabilities. Following Toni Morrison's example, Hoffman has chosen to collaborate with her son; 16-year-old Wolfe's contribution isn't clear. Heo's artwork, reminiscent of Maira Kalman's, often heads for the offbeat, but adds lots of fun to the tale. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
Michael McKenzie and his sister Hazel are awakened a few nights before Halloween by growling and howling. The next morning, they find their front yard in shambles, and a small bundle cowering on their doorstep. It's a puppy! A cute, darling little mutt they decide to call Angel. They soon learn, however, that Angel is no ordinary puppy, especially when the moon is full..... Hoffman and her teenage son's delightful tale of the challenges of owning a were-puppy is charmingly illustrated by acclaimed artist Yumi Heo.



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K-Gr 3-One September, when the moon is full, a basket is left on the McKenzie family's porch. In it is the "sweetest, most darling puppy anyone had ever seen." Michael and Hazel have always wanted a dog, and even their parents cannot resist this Angel of a pooch. This is no ordinary puppy, however. After he disappears one night, the children learn that he changes into a destructive werepup when the moon is full. They follow his tracks to the spooky house of old Miss Eleanor Mingle and her even scarier old dog, Bunny. Not only do Hazel and Michael gain an understanding of their special pup, but they also come to understand the old woman. Together they plan a party for the next full moon, which just happens to fall on Halloween. Miss Mingle is reintroduced to the townsfolk, the weredogs are (mostly) controlled by the concoction that she developed for them to eat, and all ends well. Though the theme of not judging by outward appearance is none too subtle and readers may question some of the internal logic, the story is fluidly told. Heo's appealing illustrations combine bold colors, intricate patterns, and varied perspectives. They go a long way in enhancing the pacing and tension and in making this unusual Halloween tale (mostly) satisfying.-Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at District of Columbia Public Library Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.


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