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Until I Met Dudley: How Everyday Things Really Work
Have you ever wondered how a toaster works? Or how a fridge keeps cool? Dudley, the techno-wizard dog takes children from the furthest realms of fantasy into the fascinating world of technology to discover the workings of familiar machines.
"Roger McGough's witty book offers many weird and wonderful explanations of how various household appliances work. These are followed by the actual facts, explained by Dudley the dog. Chris Riddell's artwork makes the whole an imaginative feast."
- The Bookseller
"Roger McGough's witty book offers many weird and wonderful explanations of how various household appliances work. These are followed by the actual facts, explained by Dudley the dog. Chris Riddell's artwork makes the whole an imaginative feast."
- The Bookseller
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 22, 2016
For some reason I was unfortunately not able to get the book with the cover displayed here on GR. Instead, mine looks like this:
Not bad but not the same. *grumbles*
Anyway, the book is about a child and what she thinks ordinary household tools work like (toasters for example being powered by dragons). Then Dudley (a well-educated dog) enters her life and teachers her how things like refrigerators really work.
So on one hand we have this kid's wonderful and hilarious imagination displayed by gorgous illustrations from Chris Riddell, on the other hand we have Dudley and his explanations of how these things actually work.
A great way to teach children a little bit about household stuff that everyone (including myself) takes for granted without thinking about how it works! One of those rare books that are fun and educating at the same time and as important for children as for their parents!
Not bad but not the same. *grumbles*
Anyway, the book is about a child and what she thinks ordinary household tools work like (toasters for example being powered by dragons). Then Dudley (a well-educated dog) enters her life and teachers her how things like refrigerators really work.
So on one hand we have this kid's wonderful and hilarious imagination displayed by gorgous illustrations from Chris Riddell, on the other hand we have Dudley and his explanations of how these things actually work.
A great way to teach children a little bit about household stuff that everyone (including myself) takes for granted without thinking about how it works! One of those rare books that are fun and educating at the same time and as important for children as for their parents!
February 21, 2025
From a child’s imagined working of household appliances to Dudley explaining the intricate workings of these machines. I love the opposites here!
Great for those children who are intrigued by the workings of machines, with illustrations and text giving clear explanations in a storybook way.
Great for those children who are intrigued by the workings of machines, with illustrations and text giving clear explanations in a storybook way.
February 3, 2020
I have never worried how my hoover works, my fridge keeps things cool or how my toaster works, I am just happy that they clean my carpet, keep my foodstuffs and drinks cool or frozen or deliver me a nicely toasted piece of bread! So when I saw that Dudley, who is apparently - and this work proves that he is - a techno-wizard dog, is explaining how such household appliances work I just had to have a read.
Of course, Dudley's explanations, all very technical and I still don't want to understand them, are preceded by Roger McGough's idea as to how these appliances work. And Chris Riddell provides the necessary artwork to demonstrate Roger's (pretended) naivety and to show how clever Dudley is. It all goes to provide an imaginative feast of fun.
Roger, for instance thinks that polar bears operate the fridge gathering blocks of ice from the arctic and packing them for onward transportation in a white box that will keep everything cool on arrival, that cats are involved in making a dishwasher work and that the Hoover-Snake is an integral part of the operation of a hoover. That is, of course, until Dudley comes along and explains everything very technically with the use of such words as evaporator, compressor, condenser - for the fridge -, inlet and outlet pipes, detergent dispenser, spray arm - for the dishwasher - and duct, fan, electric motor - for the hoover.
Two other operations are explained, the toaster and the rubbish truck - the latter s highly amusing for Roger thinks that a number of pigs are in the back of the truck gorging themselves on everything that comes in! And there are illustrations of other crazy things that he imagines such as how large ships keep afloat (Dudley does not include specifications for these). Roger's answer to the last mentioned is a huge pair of legs beneath the waves walking along the seabed!
It's great fun and it makes me delighted that I am not a techno-wizard. Just let my appliances keep working and I am happy!
Of course, Dudley's explanations, all very technical and I still don't want to understand them, are preceded by Roger McGough's idea as to how these appliances work. And Chris Riddell provides the necessary artwork to demonstrate Roger's (pretended) naivety and to show how clever Dudley is. It all goes to provide an imaginative feast of fun.
Roger, for instance thinks that polar bears operate the fridge gathering blocks of ice from the arctic and packing them for onward transportation in a white box that will keep everything cool on arrival, that cats are involved in making a dishwasher work and that the Hoover-Snake is an integral part of the operation of a hoover. That is, of course, until Dudley comes along and explains everything very technically with the use of such words as evaporator, compressor, condenser - for the fridge -, inlet and outlet pipes, detergent dispenser, spray arm - for the dishwasher - and duct, fan, electric motor - for the hoover.
Two other operations are explained, the toaster and the rubbish truck - the latter s highly amusing for Roger thinks that a number of pigs are in the back of the truck gorging themselves on everything that comes in! And there are illustrations of other crazy things that he imagines such as how large ships keep afloat (Dudley does not include specifications for these). Roger's answer to the last mentioned is a huge pair of legs beneath the waves walking along the seabed!
It's great fun and it makes me delighted that I am not a techno-wizard. Just let my appliances keep working and I am happy!
January 13, 2024
A lovely children’s book. Fantastic illustrations and the facts are put in such a way anyone can understand them.
September 11, 2019
This book is FANTASTIC! It is such a cute and simple way of teaching kids how some things work. First the little girl explains the ridiculous and imaginative way she once thought things worked (cats clean the plates in a dishwasher), which delighted me and is sure to delight any child. Then Dudley (a dog) explains how it actually works in a fun step-by-step explanation with thorough and clear illustrations. I do hope there’s more books like this out there because I want to read them all. I never actually knew how a refrigerator or toaster worked (I had a better idea than dragons and polar bears but still) and found this fun and informative.
September 10, 2019
I really like the set up of this book and think it could be an excellent prompt for writing, both fictional writing and non-fiction explanantion texts. The text alternates between wild and wacky explanantions of how a girl thought things worked eg a toaster until she meets Dudley the Dog who explains how they really work. The excellent text is hugely enhanced by Chris Riddell's fantastic illustrations.
October 1, 2019
The book is fun and informative, is beautifully illustrated and uses a great imagination.
A child imagines how appliances work with fire breathing dragons making toast. Then Dudley comes along and explains the elements and how these work. Suitable for year3-6
A child imagines how appliances work with fire breathing dragons making toast. Then Dudley comes along and explains the elements and how these work. Suitable for year3-6
November 25, 2021
A picture book which has been applied to my 3rd Year Placement which has been included within my Year 6 classroom. The text has been used to specifically look at technical vocabulary and and how electrical appliances work, proving imaginational misconception wrong
September 18, 2019
A great book for informing children on how every day things work, could be used in a science or design and technology lesson
October 1, 2019
Very informative.
October 19, 2019
Great book to read to explore children's imagination on how things work, also to explore how they actually work.
October 21, 2019
Love this book! An imaginative yet informative read for KS1.
Nothing better than illustrations by Chris Riddell
Nothing better than illustrations by Chris Riddell
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February 13, 2020Good explanation book
October 26, 2020
عنوان ترجمهٔ فارسی:
دیدار با دادلی؛ وسایل روزمره چطور کار میکنند؟
دیدار با دادلی؛ وسایل روزمره چطور کار میکنند؟
July 1, 2016
Me gusta mucho el concepto de este libro para niños, porque explica el funcionamiento de los electrodomésticos que tenemos por casa y tiene unas ilustraciones muy chulas. Como adulto, me ha enseñado cosas que no sabía (ni idea de cómo funcionaba una nevera hasta ahora) y cuando cargo el friegaplatos me fijo en las partes que ya sé para qué sirven. No sé si es demasiado complicado para niños a veces, pero creo que es un buen regalo y un concepto muy guay.
March 19, 2013
This book did not entertain the kids at all. It tries to explain how various everyday items work. One page shows a picture of how the central character imagines, say a vacuum cleaner would work. And the next page shows how it really works. But the pictures are too cluttered and the explanaition too dry.
September 13, 2016
Excellent book, to use in school :)
October 31, 2016
how are u supposed 2 read it
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews