Gully's Travels

Starred review from August 4, 2008
Gulliver, an affable but snobbish Lhasa apso, lives at a fashionable Manhattan address, enjoys opera and looks forward to yearly trips to Paris where he reconnects with Chloe, a Maltese with “eyes as black as raisins,” while “his” professor enjoys a nightly tête-à-tête with the beautiful Madeline de Crecy, who is allergic to long-haired dogs. When Madeline accepts the professor's marriage proposal, Gulliver is dispatched to live at the doorman's “tasteless, overcrowded,” no-frills apartment in Queens, with kids who treat “Gully” like an indestructible plaything. Gulliver, believing he's been kidnapped, cunningly retraces his steps, first to Manhattan, then to Paris. The real journey takes place in his heart, where he comes to understand that although “loyalty is the hallmark of a well-bred dog,” his has been misplaced. Seidler (Mean Margaret
) transfers human foibles to his animal characters in well-modulated comic prose, while Cole (Good Enough to Eat
) creates expressive canines in fluid line drawings. A spirited animal fantasy for the chapter book set. All ages.

Starred review from October 1, 2008
Gr 4-7-Gulliver, a Lhasa apso, has a happy life with his master, Professor Rattigan, in a Manhattan apartment. His diet consists of his favorite flavor of canned dog food, he and his master travel to Paris every summer, and his walks around Washington Square are the perfect distance for his short legs. However, his life suffers a dramatic change when his master gets engaged to his French girlfriend, who is allergic to dogs. Gulliver, now Gully, moves to Queens and lives with the family of Carlos, the doorman at his previous building, where he is served dry food and shares a home with three other dogs, a talkative gerbil, and an eight-year-old girl. Gully can't understand why his professor has deserted him, so he travels on his own to Manhattan and to Paris, discovering along the way that a loving home means more to him than luxuries. Gully's travels, both literal and metaphoric, are presented in a realistic and dramatic fashion. The pup's interactions with the other pets he meets ring true, as does their limited understanding of their owners. This appealing tale features popular themes including adventure, dogs, and travel, and will grab readers' attention. Cole's sketches on nearly every page help to bring this diverse cast of characters to life."Beth L. Meister, Milwaukee Jewish Day School, WI"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 1, 2008
Gulliver, a pampered Lhasa apso, has often traveled to Paris with his master, a Manhattan professor. After the professor falls in love with an allergic Frenchwoman, though, he gives Gulliver to his buildings doorman, whose boisterous family lives in Queens. Overwhelmed with his chaotic new home, Gully leaves to become a transatlantic traveler on his own. In a charming, third-person voice, Seidler keeps the story focused on the dogs point of view, emphasizing Gullys interactions with other animals, as well as his observations of human behavior, particularly examples of betrayal and loyalty. Gulliver is a character readers wont forget. Arrogant and superior at first, his travels teach him tolerance and appreciation for others, and the gently conveyed lessons are never too overt. Seidler vividly evokes each setting, from the neighborhoods of Manhattan, to Astoria in Queens, and the banks of the Seine in Paris, and readers will come away with a clear sense of each place. Coles expressive, scribbled sketches of interesting characters appear on almost every page and document Gullys travels and his transformation. A wholly satisfying tale about discovery and belonging from a veteran storyteller.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)