| ________________
CM . . .
. Volume VIII Number 18 . . . . May 10, 2002
excerpt: Berta closed her eyes and Marjory smiled. This was a dog who always knew exactly what she wanted and she almost always got it without making a fuss. Marjory was the only person who noticed. Even her parents, who had known Berta since puppyhood, only said things like, "Thank goodness Berta is such a quiet dog. No trouble at all." When Rosalind had gone home Marjory gave Berta a hug and a pat. "Someday you'll show people how clever you are, won't you?" she said. And Berta did. She was, after all, a very remarkable dog.
Celia Barker
Lottridge's Berta: A Remarkable Dog is the story of a dog who knows
her own mind. Berta is a dachshund belonging to Marjory Miller and her
family. She is a lovable dog who has not distinguished herself at anything,
but Marjory believes, with the optimism of a nine-year-old, that one day
this will all change. In the meantime, it is spring and new animals are
arriving at the Miller's place. Mr. Miller enjoys being able to have some
chickens, a pig and a cow -- a hobby that is allowed in their small town.
Berta's chance to distinguish herself comes with the arrival of a lamb
whose mother has shunned it. Berta takes this opportunity to be a mother
to the lamb and helps look after it until the lamb can fend for itself.
Everyone is amazed at what a good surrogate mother Berta is for the lamb
-- a feat that is truly remarkable for a short dog who has never previously
had the opportunity to be a mother.
This story has many things going for
it. The story's simplicity makes it a pleasant read. The characters,
especially Berta and Marjory, are well drawn and realistic. The reader
never feels that anything in the story is contrived. And for this reviewer,
one of the most noteworthy things about the book is its true Canadian
setting. The book begins in March. In many books, March is a time of
flowers, green grass, more flowers, and outdoor temperatures that do
not require a coat. March in Berta: A Remarkable Dog is not like
that. In one of the most apt comments on March weather, Mrs. Miller
says, "I know that Nature needs this wretched month for some reason,
but why does it have to last such a long time?" March is described as
a "a bothersome month neither winter nor spring with a yard that was
patchy with snow. A jacket is needed because you never can tell with
March." How true and how wonderfully Canadian.
This is a delightful book which young
readers should enjoy. Animal lovers will especially appreciate the realistic
portrayal of small animal care. A good choice as an early novel.
Recommended. Gillian
Martin Noonan is a teacher living in Old Perlican, NF.
To comment on this
title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.
Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal
use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other
reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by
NEXT REVIEW
|TABLE OF
CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - May 10, 2002.
AUTHORS
| TITLES | MEDIA REVIEWS
| PROFILES
| BACK ISSUES
| SEARCH | CMARCHIVE
| HOME
|
