Dogger by Shirley Hughes

Dogger by Shirley Hughes
 
Simply put, Dogger by British author Shirley Hughes is a treasure. Grounded in family routines and sibling kindness, this simple tale may set the gold standard for modeling empathy in books for young children. I first read this book as a parent, then gifted it at innumerable baby showers, later ordered it for my preschool library, and always included it as one of our “Fifty Fabulous Reads” for our preschool summer camp reading blanket area. Although our children are now grown, Dogger remains a cherished part of our family library and I relish the opportunity to pull it out and read it aloud when young nieces and nephews come to visit. And yes, on occasion, I may indulge in a solo reading just to enjoy Hughes’ soothing portrait of tender familial connections.

Dogger captures a toddler’s fervent yet sweet attachment to a favorite toy. Dave is a preschooler who plays exclusively with a careworn soft brown plush dog called Dogger. He snuggles with Dogger every night in order to go to sleep. One day after accompanying his mother on daily errands, Dave is unable to find Dogger. The family looks throughout the house and even out in the yard “but Dogger was quite lost.” Dave’s older sister Bella offers him one of her teddy bears for a bedtime cuddle “but it was not the same thing as Dogger. Dave kept waking up in the night and missing him.”

The next morning, the family attends Bella’s school fair. Bella wins the Three-Legged Race as well as a raffle with a huge teddy bear as the prize. Feeling sad and somewhat resentful of Bella’s success, Dave wanders around the fair booths and discovers Dogger on the yard sale table! He tries to explain that Dogger belongs to him and has mistakenly been placed in the yard sale. When he is unable to persuade the seller to return Dogger to him, Dave rushes to find his parents in the schoolyard crowds. Finally, he finds Bella, explains the problem, and rushes back with her to the yard sale. When they arrive at the toy stand, they see a girl walking away with Dogger. Bella attempts to buy Dogger back from the girl and soon Dave and the little girl are both crying because each wishes to have the little brown dog.

“Then Bella did something very kind.” She swaps her brand new enormous teddy bear for the old worn out Dogger. Dave is reunited with his beloved toy and order is restored to his world.

Author and illustrator of more than fifty of her own books and illustrator of dozens of other works, Shirley Hughes art is instantly recognizable. Her work is characterized by fluid pen and ink drawings and representative illustrations of the coziness and general untidiness of homes with young children. Toys are strewn across floors, clothes are rumpled, hair appears windblown, and detailed cityscapes are full of familiar objects and characters. Her illustrations evoke inhabited and comfortable family environments. Hughes is especially skilled at portraying body language and facial gestures. In a 2003 interview coinciding with an exhibition of her artwork, Hughes stated that her drawings are created rapidly “almost at the speed of seeing” (http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/exhibitions/shirley/index.asp). In Dogger, these rich and itemized illustrations create direct connections with Dave’s home and room. The art also allows children to speculate about the circumstances when Dogger was lost. Later, in an overhead illustration of the school fair, they are able to explore the many booths and the location of the yard sale toy table where Dogger is ultimately found. Can he be seen in the aerial painting? Many children declare that he is indeed visible.

Dogger was Hughes’ first international best-seller and won the 1977 Kate Greenaway Medal, Britain’s annual award for outstanding illustration in children’s literature. She is well represented in US libraries where earlier US editions of Dogger are sometimes found under the title of Dave and Dog. Her other notable children’s books include Tales of Trotter Street and the Alfie series including my personal favorites, Alfie Lends a Hand and Alfie Gets in First.

Hughes writes in clear simple prose without indulging in saccharine language or overwrought emotion. I particularly appreciate that Hughes never uses the term “love” in the entire book. While the story is certainly infused with love between siblings, among family, and even towards an inanimate object, Hughes chooses to avoid using what might be a pat and overused term. However, I choose to use this word in describing my own reaction to Shirley Hughes’ work: I love her charming tales of small domestic, interpersonal drama. Her work rings true. Hughes perfectly captures the stomach-dropping panic felt upon discovery that a child has lost his favorite lovey. And she always evokes a pang when I read of Bella’s loving act to help her bereft little brother.