Tiffky Doofky

by William Steig

Tiffky Doofky, garbage collector for the town of Popville, is proud of his calling, and quite a gay dog into the bargain. One fine spring morning, while he's making his rounds, it comes to him that something special is going to happen. Madame Tarsal, the fortuneteller, confirms his hunch and predicts that he will meet his true love that very day--before the sun goes down! "Nothing you can do can keep it from happening," she quacks, and the excited Tiffky kisses her right on the bill.
The day turns out to be far from ordinary, but not in the way Tiffky Doofky, or even Madame Tarsal, had expected. A bad-tempered witch is at work here, though she looks just like a harmless old biddy, with her bicycle and red babushka. Tiffky's adventures under her spell take him so far from Popville and so close to sunset that he begins to despair of ever meeting his beloved. He even decides that Madame Tarsal ought to get a new crystal ball. But just as the sun is touching the horizon, Tiffky has his most perilous encounter, and it brings an ending entirely satisfactory to all.

Genres: Picture Books, Fiction, Childrens, Animals, 20th Century

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

William Steig was born in New York City in 1907. In a family where every member was involved in the arts, it was not surprising that Steig became an artist.

He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968, embarking on a new and very different career.

Steig's books reflect his conviction that children want the security of a devoted family and friends. When Sylvester, Farmer Palmer, Abel, Pearl, Gorky, Solomon, and Irene eventually get home, their families are all waiting, and beginning with Amos & Boris, friendship is celebrated in story after story.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/willia...

Reviews

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiffky Doofky by William Steig- Children’s Colour Picture Book- The Book narrates the story of a dog named Tiffky Doofky who is a garbage collector for the town of Popville. One spring day, early morning Tiffky is moving with his garbage truck to collect garbage. Today a special incident happens. A duck named Madame Tarsal, the fortuneteller, confirms his hunch and predicts that “Today, Tiffky will meet his true love before the sun goes down! He can do nothing to stop from this incident from happening," she quacks, and the excited Tiffky kisses her right on her bill. The day turns out to be far from ordinary, but not in the way Tiffky Doofky, or even Madame Tarsal, had expected. After unloading the garbage, Tiffky finds a shining necklace. He picks it up and wears around his neck. A bad-tempered witch who is cock is on his cycle. Tiffky blows the truck’s horn. Hen falls down. Tiffky helps her to stand up. This hen is a witch. She informs him that today he will meet his beloved. He takes out a bow and arrow. He loads an arrow and flies it. Tiffky follows the arrow and finds that it lands on a field near a scarecrow. Next, Tiffky falls down from a hill and lands in a park. He finds that a butterfly catcher with his net. Tiffky enquires about his truck and the way back to Nocknagal Raod. Soon Tiffky reaches his garbage truck. Tiffky was tired, rested and slept near a rock. In his sleep, a snake twirled around him and tried to squeeze him to death. Name of the snake is Dolores. The name of his owner is Estrella, a beautiful hen. They meet before sunset. They fall in love. But just as the sun is touching the horizon, Coloured illustrations and pictures help the reader to relate to the narrative. I have read the Hindi translation of this book. In order to maintain the interest of children in reading, simple interesting stories like this book has, should be scripted.

[Elayna Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiffky Doofky is the garbage collector for the town of Popville, and is proud of his calling.One fine spring morning, while he's making his rounds, it comes to him that something special is going to happen. Madame Tarsal, the fortuneteller, confirms his hunch and predicts that he will meet his true love that very day before the sun goes down. This book is a cute story and funny. I would read this with my children on earth day and then after we would walk around campus and pick up garbage.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tiffky Doofky, the town garbage collector, went about his duties, but stopped to have his fortune told. It was revealed that he would find his true love before the sun went down. Later, while under the spell of an evil witch he is sent on a strange adventure; but what will become of his fortune? Will he meet his true love before the sun sets?

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm on a Read-Steig-a-thon! Tiffky Doofky, gallant garbage collector extraordinaire, is promised love, is foiled (you'll have to read it to find out how, and finds it - in less than 50 pages!

[Ange · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well Tiffky Doofky is an appealing character, but it's a strange book. I'm not sure what children would get out of this - trust fortune tellers and `villainous witches and you will meet your love? If that's the message, it's a peculiar one.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

How amusing. Now I know old biddy hens are not fully to be trusted, which is just as I always thought. But Tiffky gets his happy ending despite her interference.

[Gerard De Josep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quin personatge tan adorable!

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tiffky Doofky is really a book about waiting for something good to happen to oneself, and believing that the good thing can happen even after hope seems to be draining away. Tiffky Doofky, the garbage collector dog, searches for his true love after hearing from a fortune teller that he would met his true love that day, before sunset. Tiffky puts himself out there and goes to look for this love of his life, but very little about his search goes the way that he would have expected, and as the sun hovers near the horizon, no special girl has presented herself. Good things can happen even after hope has been nearly lost, though, and it is just such a miracle that blesses Tiffky Doofky with what he was searching for the whole time.

William Steig is an excellent writer who really knows how to make picture books that have equal appeal to all ages. He is one of the best, in my opinion. I would give at least one and a half stars to Tiffky Doofky.

[Mecca Morrison · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was very bad. It made no sense and was just extremely random. The main theme was a boy dog trying to find the girl he was going to marry and random things kept getting in the way so he couldn’t. But in the end he finally found her. The events throughout the book did not make sense and were not well thought out. There was no way they could happen. First a chicken cast a spell on him and the only way he got out of the spell was when she got tired and forgot about him. It just did not make sense. If someone were to read it, the age group for the book would probably be ages 5-7, but I would not recommend reading it.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emphasizing the magical/supernatural quality of our world is great, but it could be done without celebrating crystal ball readers. It's like being a witch for Halloween—it makes as much sense as being a good Satan. ("Oh, but it's a good one." Right.)

[Óscar Trobo · Rating 3 out of 5]

El vaig llegir fa un parell d'anys i ni ho recordava. És el llibre que menys m'agrada del Steig. Els dibuixos estan bé, com sempre, però potser el text es passa de candorós. O potser soc jo, que com ja no llegeixo als nens en veu alta, la porta aquest món se'm va tancat a poc a poc.