THEODOR AND MR. BALBINI

by Petra Mathers ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1988

From the talented creator of Maria Theresa, another offbeat story: Mr. Balbini lives contentedly with his dog, Theodor, till the day Theodor begins to talk. A solid, largish black dog, has a mind of his own and feels free to express it: he prefers Mr. Balbini's projected dinner to his own, dislikes their daily walk to the boathouse, and scorns Balbini's favorite TV program. Bemused, Balbini-goes along with his demands, even getting Theodor a French tutor; fortunately, this results in various new friendships and alliances with contentment restored. Mathers' clean, crisp, full-page illustrations add considerably to her wry humor. Beautifully designed, with judiciously chosen decorative detail, they are rich in visual humor (Theodor concentrating on the perfect slicing of zucchini is priceless; Mr. Balbini in the shower sums up the vulnerability of this stolid but engaging character). And from the French instructor's avid cheeriness to the wordless affection between Balbini and his new dog friend, Josephine, the author deftly conveys the nuances of character and relationship in her illustrations. Great fun.

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1988

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harper & Row

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1988

Categories: CHILDREN'S