Bark, George
 | |
| Author | Jules Feiffer |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Jules Feiffer |
| Cover artist | Jules Feiffer |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Humor |
| Genre | Children's literature, picture book |
| Publisher | Michael di Capua Books; |
Publication date | 1999 |
Published in English | June 3, 1999 |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| Pages | 32 |
| ISBN | 9780062051868 |
| Preceded by | I Lost My Bear |
| Followed by | Smart George[1] |
Bark, George is a 1999 children's book written and illustrated by author, cartoonist and playwright Jules Feiffer, and published by Michael di Capua Books.[2][3] It was listed as ninth overall in a list of the "Top 100 Picture Books" of all time in a 2012 poll by School Library Journal.[4] The book is about the titular character, a young dog who cannot bark.[5]
History[edit]
Jules Feiffer explained that he had the idea for the story that became "Bark, George" when he told it to his young daughter, Julie, as an impromptu bedtime story which she did not find funny.[6]
The book’s sequel, ‘’Smart George’’, was published more than 20 years after the original was released.[1] Feiffer said he intended to publish a sequel within two years of ‘’Bark, George’’ being released, and, “It was never far from my mind, as the years went by and I had no luck in coming up with any ideas, that someday, somehow, George would make a comeback. He was one of my favorite characters.”[3]
Plot[edit]
The book tells the story of a puppy named George. George cannot bark in the conventional way dogs are innately able to bark.[7] When George's mother asks him to bark, George responds with “meow” and then several other animal sounds. George's mother takes him to a veterinarian where the reader discovers George has swallowed several different kinds of animals, which the veterinarian extracts one by one.[8]
The story has drawn comparisons to the nursery rhyme “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”.[9]
Reception[edit]
The book debuted on the Los Angeles Times bestsellers list in September 1999.[10] The New York Times described Bark, George as, “a charming bedtime standby” in 2008.[11]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Jillian Tamaki (28 May 2020). "The Novel That Made Jules Feiffer Ignore His Family on Vacation". New York Times. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ Fay, Martha (2015). Out of Line: The Art of Jules Feiffer. New York: Harry N. Abrams. ISBN 9781419700668.
- ^ a b Pamela Paul (3 July 2020). "Jules Feiffer on his Long, Varied Career". New York Times. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ Bird, Elizabeth (July 6, 2012). "Top 100 Picture Books Poll Results". School Library Journal "A Fuse #8 Production" blog. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "BARK, GEORGE". Audio File Magazine. 1 January 2003. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ Matia Burnett (8 December 2011). "The Good, the Bad, and the Funny: Authors Talk Humor in Children's Books". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ Petra Mayer (31 August 2020). "Welcome To Story Hour: 100 Favorite Books For Young Readers". NPR. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ Susan Salter Reynolds (2 October 2010). "Discoveries". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ Betsy Bird (17 June 2012). "Top 100 Picture Books #9: Bark, George by Jules Feiffer". School Library Journal. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "Children's Bestsellers". Los Angeles Times. 12 September 1999. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ David Kamp (17 October 2008). "Cartoons for Grown-Ups". New York Times. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
External links[edit]
- Bark, George (registration required) (via the Internet Archive)
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