Emerson Barks

May 30, 2016
“Life was great for Emerson,” writes Woodruff (If It’s Snowy and You Know it, Clap Your Paws!) of her pert terrier protagonist. Well, except for one thing: Emerson’s bark punches way, way above its weight. When that bark drives away a neighbor’s cat and gets his own owner, Eva, in trouble, Emerson doesn’t need to be sent to an actual doghouse to feel miserable. Thanks to Woodruff’s crisp, unfussy cartooning, most readers will feel a gut punch, too—they know how hard it is to practice impulse control, especially when the disappointment of a loved one is at stake. The ending, however, takes the easy way out and dilutes this moment of recognition and reflection. Emerson makes amends by finding the missing cat (who actually had other motives for running off), uses his bark to alert the neighborhood, and “things quickly returned to normal in the neighborhood.” But the rewards of restraint and self-discipline aren’t always so clear-cut and celebrated, and there isn’t any real sense that Emerson has come away from the experience a wiser (or quieter) dog. Ages 4–8. Agent: Lori Kilkelly, Rodeen Literary Management.

June 1, 2016
A tiny, gray dog with a loud, annoying bark tries to stop bothering his neighbors.Emerson is small in size but mighty in vocalization, indicated on the cover and in the illustrations with huge, hand-lettered "barks" and "arfs" integrated into the humorous art. The little dog barks at birds, at the letter carrier, and especially at his next-door neighbors, Miss Cross, a grumpy-looking gray-haired woman in glasses and sandals, and her large cat, Kissy. One morning, Emerson so startles the neighbors with his barking that Kissy runs away. Miss Cross complains to Emerson's owner, a blonde girl named Eva, so Emerson valiantly tries to hold his barking in. Miss Cross, Eva, and the letter carrier all search for the missing cat, but only Emerson can spot glimpses of Kissy or catch her scent. Finally Emerson can no longer hold back his bark, and his loud sounds lead everyone to Kissy's hiding place in a clump of bushes, where she has delivered kittens. The story is mildly amusing but predictable, and the unexpected arrival of kittens is both a hackneyed plot device and indicative of an irresponsible pet owner who didn't have her cat spayed. Eva and Miss Cross are white, a neighbor girl shown in one illustration has fabulously kinky hair, and the letter carrier has brown skin. While Emerson is an appealing character, Jules Feiffer's Bark, George (1999) remains the clear choice in accounts of caterwauling canines. (Picture book. 3-7)

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August 1, 2016

K-Gr 3-Emerson is a little dog with a big bark. When his loud sounds scare the neighbor cat Kissy into hiding, crotchety Miss Cross has words with his girl Eva. In a hasty decision, Eva bans the pup from barking altogether. The shaggy-eared mutt tries his best to comply with the drastic orders. When he spies a squirrel, he coughs a tepid "AR-ahem," and when the mailman arrives, he gulps in another bark. After swallowing his loud voice and feeling miserable, Emerson embraces his booming barks and saves the day. Woodruff's digitally created illustrations have funny details like a "Woof" welcome mat and rubber chicken chew toys. VERDICT Emerson's enthusiasm and good intentions will have readers rooting for him. A fun read-aloud for storytimes and small group sharing.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

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