Shamrock Queen (Always Reddy)

The illustrations in the book by Wesley Dennis are top notch. The story is OK, and I liked it enough but not enough to recommend someone go out of their way to get the book. Irish setters I believe were a lot more popular at one time. I remember a friend who had a couple and will never forget them seeing a dove land in his backyard a good distance away, and one of the dogs ran over and was able to leap up and grab the bird as it started to take flight and bring it back to my friend. They are beautiful dogs if you can handle the energy and required brushing.

In the book the dog Shamrock Queen, aka Reddy, is described this way:
"The things that Irish setter could do! She could scent birds even in dry weather when other dogs just sat down show more on their haunches and gave up. She could find them if they were hidden in a haystack. She could fly over brush and fences and brooks as if she had wings on her feet instead of feathers."

Of course conflict has to come starting with these words:
“Adam,” said Mrs. Hoops, as if it took a great deal of courage to bring out the words. “Mamma cannot live in the same house with dogs.”

Reddy and her puppy Snippet are allowed by the Mayor to live in the basement of Town Hall. Reddy's owner Mr. Hoops is the Treasurer. Little things of days gone by make the old books fun when everything was not as regimented and the worry of litigation on every aspect so prominent. Fortunately nothing in this book smacks of racism or sexism.

I liked this bit how the puppy was trained:
The only real training tools Mr. Hoops possessed were his whistle and an old battered hat. Snippet respected both. By the time summer came, he understood as many signals as most dogs twice his age. He knew that one short blast meant “Stop!” if it was followed by a second short blast he knew it meant, “Look to the master for directions.” Then, at a mere wave of the hat to the right or to the left, Snippet would range in the direction indicated. But of all signals, Snippet preferred the long blast that meant, “Come in! There may be a choice morsel of food as a reward!”

So in short, great illustrations, ok story. show less

The illustrations in the book by Wesley Dennis are top notch. The story is OK, and I liked it enough but not enough to recommend someone go out of their way to get the book. Irish setters I believe were a lot more popular at one time. I remember a friend who had a couple and will never forget them seeing a dove land in his backyard a good distance away, and one of the dogs ran over and was able to leap up and grab the bird as it started to take flight and bring it back to my friend. They are beautiful dogs if you can handle the energy and required brushing.

In the book the dog Shamrock Queen, aka Reddy, is described this way:
"The things that Irish setter could do! She could scent birds even in dry weather when other dogs just sat down show more on their haunches and gave up. She could find them if they were hidden in a haystack. She could fly over brush and fences and brooks as if she had wings on her feet instead of feathers."

Of course conflict has to come starting with these words:
“Adam,” said Mrs. Hoops, as if it took a great deal of courage to bring out the words. “Mamma cannot live in the same house with dogs.”

Reddy and her puppy Snippet are allowed by the Mayor to live in the basement of Town Hall. Reddy's owner Mr. Hoops is the Treasurer. Little things of days gone by make the old books fun when everything was not as regimented and the worry of litigation on every aspect so prominent. Fortunately nothing in this book smacks of racism or sexism.

I liked this bit how the puppy was trained:
The only real training tools Mr. Hoops possessed were his whistle and an old battered hat. Snippet respected both. By the time summer came, he understood as many signals as most dogs twice his age. He knew that one short blast meant “Stop!” if it was followed by a second short blast he knew it meant, “Look to the master for directions.” Then, at a mere wave of the hat to the right or to the left, Snippet would range in the direction indicated. But of all signals, Snippet preferred the long blast that meant, “Come in! There may be a choice morsel of food as a reward!”

So in short, great illustrations, ok story. show less

Somewhat cute but terribly dated story of a dog whose owner submits to his wife's wishes and moves her (the dog, not the wife) to the town hall cellar to live. It was just okay.

Wonderful classic dog story for older elementary readers, with many great illos by one of the best animal artists of the day.