In this fifth book about Martha the talking dog, Martha's family is disappointed when their new puppy, Skits, eats alphabet soup but can only say woof. It turns out, however, that Skits has his own special talent--that of chasing and catching flying objects, from Frisbees to bees. Once again, Meddaugh's appealing cartoon-like illustrations move the story forward and add humor and personality to the characters. From HORN BOOK Spring 2001, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Ages 4^-7. Martha the talking dog returns in a fifth installment, this time with a new "brother" --puppy Skits. She enjoys the chaos Skits causes until the pup overturns her alphabet soup, which enables her to talk. The letters enable her to speak, the family waits eagerly for Skits to down the soup and start yapping too, but nothing happens. As Martha's owner says, "I guess two talking dogs were too much to expect." Skits knows he's not special like Martha, but his gloom is diminished by his favorite avocation, catching flying items like Frisbees. One day, while chasing a bug, Skits gets lost (now he really wishes he were like Martha so that he could phone home). The family is distraught until Martha realizes that Skits is sure to show up at the Frisbee-catching contest. Skits arrives, wins the golden Frisbee, and finds his own place in the family as an overachieving canine. This has all the fun that children have come to expect from Martha's appealing adventures, complete with humorous asides and energetic illustrations. The ending is not unexpected, but it may remind listeners that each member of a family is somebody special. --Ilene Cooper

PreS-Gr 3-Fans of this talking dog will be charmed by this story about the new puppy that comes into the family. Martha is amused as Skits chews and destroys household goods with puppylike zeal, but she is quick to establish order when Skits spills her dish of alphabet soup. When the newcomer is old enough to try speaking, he is at a loss for words and feels badly, until Martha and their family assure him that he should be proud of his unique ability to catch flying objects. Meddaugh's bright cartoon illustrations are loving and playful, and prompt several laugh-out-loud moments. Dialogue balloons extend the simple, engaging narrative, and may inspire reader's theater. Preschoolers will identify with many elements in this story that also has enough sophistication to appeal to the early elementary crowd, and adults will appreciate its gentle message of acceptance.-Laura Scott, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Meddaugh tucks an unobtrusive lesson about valuing differences into this tale of doggy devotion, her fifth featuring the ever-popular Martha. From her favorite easy chair, Martha looks on benevolently as Skits, a new little companion, creates total puppy chaos indoors and out, developing from an "equal opportunity chaser and chewer" to a specialist in snagging "anything airborne." Soon "little" Skits is little no longer--but not even two bowls of the alphabet soup that gives Martha the power of speech produces in him anything beyond a bark. Feeling his family's disappointment, Skits wanders disconsolately out to the yard and incautiously snaps at a yellow jacket. By the time the pain eases, he is a long way from home. With some of Martha's comments placed in dialogue balloons, Meddaugh's sketchy, expressive illustrations capture the entire family's worry as they hunt for their lost member, leading up to a joyful reunion at a climactic Frisbee contest that (thanks to some timely help from Martha) Skits wins jaws down to regain his self-respect. So what if his conversational range extends from "arf" to "woof"? If it flies or floats, it's history. (Picture book. 5-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In this fifth Martha adventure, the talking dog hears a phrase well known to middle-aged pets: "Meet your new brother." Martha's owners introduce a brown puppy, Skits, who chews random household objects, attacks the vacuum cleaner and launches himself upon "anything airborne." ("Bad dog!" shout the humans, echoing the key line in Martha Walks the Dog, while Martha looks on in fond amusement.) Martha and Skits become friends, although Martha asserts "alpha dog" status when Skits spills her alphabet soup, the potion that enables Martha to speak. Martha wonders why the soup doesn't grant Skits the same ability ("Martha worried about Skits's brain. Was it too small?"), until she discerns that his talents lie elsewhere. Using her customary combination of deadpan commentary, comical voice-bubble asides and witty drawings, Meddaugh takes an accurate look at puppy behavior. It's almost a shame when, with the flick of a page, Skits transforms from big-eyed, charmingly stupid youngster to oversize lummox. Yet the gangly, full-grown SkitsDdashing headlong into big troubleDprovides an amusing contrast to tawny-coated, plump and pragmatic Martha. Meddaugh gently shifts the weight of the book away from Martha and onto the two dogs as a team. Her fitting addition to Martha's family acknowledges time's passage, invigorating both her canine heroine and her series. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved