
Bibliography
Wheeler, L. (2004). Seadogs: an epic ocean operetta. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Summary of the Plot
A young Victorian girl dog is lucky enough to see the showing of Seadogs, an operetta. The operetta is about an old seadog who gathers his crew for one last big adventure. His crew consists of a bar waitress and a puppy of a questionable background. The boxed song lyrics describe what is going on the ship as they sail the ocean blue and describes the life that the dogs left behind. The Victorian girl puppy enjoyed the show so much that as she is being driven away she knows that she will soon not forget this operetta.
Vi's Vibes
Personally, I didn't care for this book. I suppose it was the way it was outlined in the different panels. I thought that many of the cute little sayings of humor were lost on the students. The theme of the story that the true treasure is each other and the spirit of adventure was a good theme but the telling of the story left much to be desired. The story was very slow paced in my opinion.
Reviews
Gr 1-4-Wheeler and Siegel do many things well in their comic-book-style story, but an unnecessarily convoluted plot ultimately sinks this lighthearted adventure. The opening illustrations show an excited pup arriving at the theater and the canine cast members getting ready backstage. Once the curtain rises, the tale is related through funny songs and verses. Old Seadog (the captain), Brave Beagle, and her love (a cowardly dachshund) set sail on the Beauty. They soon encounter a "Mongrel Horde" led by Captain Jacques Fifi. As the three friends hide, the pirates board their ship, loot it, and then, surprisingly, return to their own vessel. During the raid, Captain Fifi accidentally drops a treasure map and a stowaway sneaks aboard. This chubby little pup soon wins Old Seadog's heart. The heroes sail to the treasure isle and find the hoard, only to lose it again, but in the end, they realize that their true treasure is adventure and love. The text contains a good deal of whimsical humor and wordplay. The catchy verses milk the canine puns for all they're worth, but this slows the pace considerably. The cartoons add detail and comic twists; they often belie the words they accompany to ironic effect. Ultimately, the story feels a bit forced and drawn out; the pirates lack bite and adults will best appreciate much of the humor. With not enough action and too much verse, this venture comes up short.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA
School Library Journal March 2004
Utilization for Library Classes
The students can write their own little operetta and then act it out.
The students can write their own songs to go along with an opera.
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