McDuff Goes to School

McDuff

by Rosemary Wells, Susan Jeffers

When McDuff and his new French-speaking neighbors' dog are enrolled in obedience school, it seems as though McDuff has not learned his lessons.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Dogs, Fiction, School, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).

Reviews

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining tale about two very different families. McDuff is not nearly as obedient as his neighbor, Marie-Antoinette, so Fred and Lucy enroll him in training school. But neither has the time or energy to train with him. When it's time to graduate from the school, it doesn't look good for McDuff.

I loved reading the French in this story, since I've studied that language for many years and I jump at any chance to expose our girls to the language. I thought it was interesting, however, when Fred comments about the French speaking neighbors.

We've read several books featuring McDuff and will likely look for more at our local library.

[Friend of Pixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got to use my rusty high-school French! A French-speaking neighbor moves in across the street from McDuff, with a Scottie. She trains her dog in French, of course, and her dog and McDuff end up in the same obedience class. McDuff's owners have no time to practice at home, so McDuff doesn't do well at the final competition. However, unbeknownst to them, the French woman has been training the dogs together, with McDuff on the other side of the fence and she saves the day by stepping in and using the French commands with McDuff, winning him the second-place ribbon. Glossary and pronunciation guide in the back for those who don't have my astounding command of the language. :-)

[Charles van Buren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by Catherine, age 8, July 8, 2016

This review is from: McDuff Goes to School (Hardcover)

Review by Catherine, age 8. This book has a lot of French in it. I can't read French. Neither can my dad. It should tell us how to say the words. But it is a good book. I loved the part at the end when McDuff got a ribbon. I got the book from the library. I like dogs and the pictures.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

a bas, assieds-toi, au pied, couche-toi, saute, viens and reste-la. I loved how McDuff learns French. Very cute twist.

[Eyehavenofilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when you train along side your friend Marie Antionette, and she learns everything in French? Well thats what happens to our little pal Mc Duff. He is sent to dog training school, and when he meets Marie, they train side by side at home along the fence. Only one problem, Marie is learning her "sit, stay, roll over" in French and when it comes time for the exam, Mc Duff fails miserably until Marie's "human" guides him in French and saves the day.
Comes with directions in French in case you want a bi-lingual doggy!

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe if the glossary was at the front of the book instead of the back I would have enjoyed this book more. Instead I had no clue how to pronouce the french words as I attempted to read it to my daughter.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

McDuff gets new neighbors at number nine Elm Road. Marie-Antoinette belonged to the de Gaulles. McDuff and Marie-Antoinette are enrolled in dog obedience school, but Fred & Lucy didn't take the time to teach McDuff his lessons. A surprising development is discovered on graduation day. A glossary of French terms are listed in the back.

[Andrés · Rating 5 out of 5]

This McDuff story features some complexity of plot! Poor McDuff isn't getting enough support at home, but he gets to learn from his new friend! And he even learns French in the process! Although Marie Antoinette is unfortunately named, in this case she is a champion. Second place is still a big, though imperfect, victory for McDuff. Fitting.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

McDuff struggles to obey so they go to Obedience School. However, the owners are too busy to work with him so he fails the test. Everyone is surprised when he responds to their new neighbor's commands in French as she was training her dog at the same time.

[Mel Lockcuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

We enjoyed this book, especially trying out French words for sit, stay, and come with our own dog Chuck, who just stares at us like we’ve lost our minds. lol Very fun story. And I love the intro to basic French language for kids.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read to Sam.

[Penelope · Rating 3 out of 5]

We love McDuff but our friend Fred is problematic towards his French neighbors. Bonus- love the French translations at the end.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a little disappointing to me (as an adult) but my almost 3 year old granddaughter enjoyed it simply because it had the to 'puppies' in it. Most (well a lot) of the book has French words in it and those of us who can't read or speak French wouldn't know how to read the words although you can figure it out pretty quickly but if you are reading it outloud (as I did) you don't have 'time' to stop and figure out what words are suppose to be. (Not like if you were reading it along) ALSO if a child is reading this on their own it would be very confusing and possibly frustrating to them.

The story is McDuff finding out a new neighbor moves in next door. They speak French and both dogs need behavior school. Their owners sign them up for the same 'class'... their homework is to be 'worked' with. The neighbor's owner works with her but McDuff's family is too busy to spend time with him (which I didn't like the book implying to children it's okay to ignore and not find the time to spend with your pet.) He went outside and as his neighbor is being worked with he listens and does what his neighbor does and the owner sees that he is listening so she works with both dogs with McDuff through the fence. When it comes to being tested and the contest in school. His neighbor is very well behaved and minds her owner. But McDuff doesn't listen to his owners but when the neighbor sees him misbeaviing she speaks to him (in French) and he listens and does exactly what she says. And wins second place after all.

This book (to me) just sent of too many bad 'it's okay' things that aren't okay. To often pets are bought or adopted just to be ignored then the owner gets mad because of bad behaviors and that isn't okay. And this book, although has very cute characters the author could have done much better with this story.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

McDuff has a new neighbor who enrolls her dog in obedience school along with McDuff. The new neighbor is from France so she speaks to her dog in French. She faithfully trains her dog, while McDuff's owners are too busy to work with him. So, McDuff joins in on the neighbors lessons and learns to be obedient to French commands. He almost fails obedience school, until the kind neighbor does his lesson with him (in French!).

Nice illustrations.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Wells & Jeffers collaboration about McDuff, an adorable Westie. This time he is sent to obedience school and is diagnosed with "D.A.I., Dog Attention-itis." Fortunately he learns the commands from his French-speaking neighbors and earns a red ribbon. Plenty of French words in the text, so the glossary in the back will come in handy.

[Hannah Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

McDuff Goes to School was great! This story tells of a dog that has a new neighbor. When McDuff's people take him to obedience school the new dog Lucy goes too. Lucy's owner works on all the commands from school, but McDuff's owners are too busy. When graduation comes what will happen? This is a sweet story and also has some french phrases (as well as a glossary).

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super Cute- the white Westie befriends a new French Scottie next door. As he spends time with her, he learns all of his commands for good behavior- in French. The book then lists the commands in French with the phonetic pronunciation. Loved it.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too adorable. This would be so fun to act out in storytime with live dogs... I just need a West Highland White - I have a black yorkie! Rosemary Wells and Susan Jeffers pair up to create a wonderfully illustrated fun series.

[Tam · Rating 3 out of 5]

We love the "Max and Ruby" series by Rosemary Wells but this was our first (and maybe last) "McDuff" book. My child didn't like the dog commands in French and I didn't notice there was a pronunciation guide at the back of the book until after I read it.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Luckily I took french in High School, but still a little painful=)(we didn't realize there was a glossary in the back). Not much to hold our interest here.

[Alexandria K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has cute pictures the story I liked the story, too.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story, McDuff goes to dog obedience school. McDuff doesn't seem to have learned anything. As it turns out, McDuff did---only McDuff learned to obey in FRENCH!! Really cute pictures.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you need to incorporate some French into a storytime, this is a great book for it. Cute story too. A bit long for younger audiences.

[Bree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Notes:
too many french words to stumble over

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

McDuff goes to obedience school and doesn't do very well as compared to the French poodle who is also there. Lo and behold he has learned all his instructions in French.