Widget

Rating:
Summary: Meow?
Review: By my estimates, there are roughly one million "just be yourself" picture books available on the market today. These range from Madonna's uber-hokey "The English Roses" to older and far more adept books like Leo Lionni's classic, "Swimmy". In the case of "Widget", author Lyn Rossiter McFarland and her illustrating husband Jim McFarland have taken a slightly different route. By using a story in which being true to one's own self (apologies to W. Shakespeare) is not only desirable but also necessary, they have written a truly sweet story. Cat and dog lovers alike should be pleased.

Widget is a small white dog and if I knew my dogs better I could probably tell you his breed. Possibly a terrier. A stray, he finds warmth and shelter in the home of one Mrs. Diggs. Unfortunately, Mrs. Diggs (having not yet reached "crazy cat lady" status, but certainly on her way there) owns six finicky felines that don't like dogs at all. Noting their disapproval, Widget sets out to show one and all that he can be just as cat-like as any of them. If they meow, he meows. If they puff up and hiss, he puffs up and hisses. In fact, Widget is so complete in his cat-like activities that he even purrs, plays with toy mice, and (I'm sure many dog lovers would kill for their pets to learn this one) uses the litter box. Stunned, the cats accept him and Widget eventually forgets that he's a dog at all. One day, however, Mrs. Diggs has an accident and Widget comes to the unarguable decision that sometimes being a dog is a very useful thing indeed.

Anyone familiar with that old Disney cartoon about "Lambert, the Sheepish Lion", in which a lion tries to pretend to be a sheep and ends up saving the flock from a wolf? This isn't exactly that story, but it's pretty darn close. The difference here, however, is the clever turn in events. When Widget decides that barking is the only way to get the neighbors attention (and help for his fallen mistress), the cats decide to bark too. This is a far more satisfying ending than one in which the dog, who has capitulated to the desires of his fellow pets, is alone in acting like his natural canine self. After pretending to be a cat for so long, it's only fair that the kitties should eventually follow his lead and become like a dog too (when necessity calls, that is). Lyn McFarland's text is nice and clear. It is fortunate, however, that her husband Jim McFarland is the illustrator. This tale could easily have been given to an artist less adept in the ways of cats and dogs. It could have become hokey or, worse still, sacchrine. Fortunately, you're in safe hands here. Widget is cute without being cloying. And the cats are disapproving without ever becoming nasty or cruel. McFarland's watercolors perfectly compliment a story in which an adorable animal finds shelter, love, and (eventual) acceptance. I was impressed with his delicate lines, his subtle gradations of colors, and even his ways of displaying the tenderest of emotions on a face of a faithful pet.

"Widget" really hasn't been recognized formally by the picture book community. As it stands, it has not won huge prestigious awards or garnered worldwide attention. Instead, it is a soft subtle little tale that makes everyone reading it happy. If you're a cat or dog lover, I can't imagine you wouldn't take to it. If, instead, you just want a well-written picture book to read to your kids, this is an ideal choice. It's a top notch book all around. Well done, McFarlands.

Rating:
Summary: Meow?
Review: By my estimates, there are roughly one million "just be yourself" picture books available on the market today. These range from Madonna's uber-hokey "The English Roses" to older and far more adept books like Leo Lionni's classic, "Swimmy". In the case of "Widget", author Lyn Rossiter McFarland and her illustrating husband Jim McFarland have taken a slightly different route. By using a story in which being true to one's own self (apologies to W. Shakespeare) is not only desirable but also necessary, they have written a truly sweet story. Cat and dog lovers alike should be pleased.

Widget is a small white dog and if I knew my dogs better I could probably tell you his breed. Possibly a terrier. A stray, he finds warmth and shelter in the home of one Mrs. Diggs. Unfortunately, Mrs. Diggs (having not yet reached "crazy cat lady" status, but certainly on her way there) owns six finicky felines that don't like dogs at all. Noting their disapproval, Widget sets out to show one and all that he can be just as cat-like as any of them. If they meow, he meows. If they puff up and hiss, he puffs up and hisses. In fact, Widget is so complete in his cat-like activities that he even purrs, plays with toy mice, and (I'm sure many dog lovers would kill for their pets to learn this one) uses the litter box. Stunned, the cats accept him and Widget eventually forgets that he's a dog at all. One day, however, Mrs. Diggs has an accident and Widget comes to the unarguable decision that sometimes being a dog is a very useful thing indeed.

Anyone familiar with that old Disney cartoon about "Lambert, the Sheepish Lion", in which a lion tries to pretend to be a sheep and ends up saving the flock from a wolf? This isn't exactly that story, but it's pretty darn close. The difference here, however, is the clever turn in events. When Widget decides that barking is the only way to get the neighbors attention (and help for his fallen mistress), the cats decide to bark too. This is a far more satisfying ending than one in which the dog, who has capitulated to the desires of his fellow pets, is alone in acting like his natural canine self. After pretending to be a cat for so long, it's only fair that the kitties should eventually follow his lead and become like a dog too (when necessity calls, that is). Lyn McFarland's text is nice and clear. It is fortunate, however, that her husband Jim McFarland is the illustrator. This tale could easily have been given to an artist less adept in the ways of cats and dogs. It could have become hokey or, worse still, sacchrine. Fortunately, you're in safe hands here. Widget is cute without being cloying. And the cats are disapproving without ever becoming nasty or cruel. McFarland's watercolors perfectly compliment a story in which an adorable animal finds shelter, love, and (eventual) acceptance. I was impressed with his delicate lines, his subtle gradations of colors, and even his ways of displaying the tenderest of emotions on a face of a faithful pet.

"Widget" really hasn't been recognized formally by the picture book community. As it stands, it has not won huge prestigious awards or garnered worldwide attention. Instead, it is a soft subtle little tale that makes everyone reading it happy. If you're a cat or dog lover, I can't imagine you wouldn't take to it. If, instead, you just want a well-written picture book to read to your kids, this is an ideal choice. It's a top notch book all around. Well done, McFarlands.

Rating:
Summary: Widget
Review: I noticed this book in the bookstore because "Widget" is my son's nickname. I picked it up, read it, laughed out loud, said "Widget is going to love this" and immediately purchased it. It ended up becoming one of my son's ... favorite books. It is a very charming and funny book for both children and adults. It is also a good book to introduce children to the concept of accepting differences and getting along with others. I read this book to the kids at my son's school and they were totally entertained by Widget's antics acting like a cat and trying to fit in.

Rating:
Summary: Widget
Review: I noticed this book in the bookstore because "Widget" is my son's nickname. I picked it up, read it, laughed out loud, said "Widget is going to love this" and immediately purchased it. It ended up becoming one of my son's ... favorite books. It is a very charming and funny book for both children and adults. It is also a good book to introduce children to the concept of accepting differences and getting along with others. I read this book to the kids at my son's school and they were totally entertained by Widget's antics acting like a cat and trying to fit in.

Rating:
Summary: A winning tale with heart and character
Review: The husband and wife writer and illustrator of "The Pirate's Parrot" team up again for a humorous tale of animals and adventure. Little Widget is a stray dog seeking shelter and food. He finds the home of Miss Diggs and her six cats. Miss Diggs wants him to stay, but the cats hate dogs. To gain acceptance of the cats, Widget acts like a cat, purring and using the litter box. The cats welcome him, but Widget must act like a dog again to find help when Miss Diggs falls ill. The cats are pleased when Widget brings people to help, and ultimately accept him as a dog.

Accented by flowing watercolors of multiple hues and shades, the line-drawn illustrations lend a sense of urgency and action to the story. Widget himself is given many expressions, from fear to fierceness to cuteness. Young children will delight in Widget's attempts at cathood, and the pace of the story will keep preschoolers enthralled at storytime. A winning tale with heart and character.

Rating:
Summary: Good for a picture book.
Review: Widget is just like other children's books but is one of my favorites. I like it because it has more words then most others. It also good because the author didn't use annoying rhymes. This book has good illustrations, too. For a children's book, I would say this is good.

Rating:
Summary: Don't miss this one.
Review: With all the picture-story books out there, it's a delightful surprise when a new one is a original as this. I actually laughed out loud, sitting alone, reading this for the first time. The pictures and text work perfectly together to tell the story of a stray dog who becomes as much like a cat as possible in order to fit in with Mrs. Diggs' houseful of cats (called "the girls"). As if that weren't funny enough, the plot takes an unexpected, even funnier twist. Don't miss this--for ages 2 and up.