A Duck at the Dog Pound

by Susann Batson

Overview

Wiggles the Duck wants to be a Dog so she can be loved and go for walks like everyone else in her family. But when she and the beagles escape from their yard and end up at the dog pound, she discovers being a dog isn't the only way to be loved.

Susann Batson is an award winning author/illustrator. Her first children's story, Gilly, the Seasick Fish was #15 on the eBook Bestseller List all Genres for 1999. Children have always played a big part in Susann's life. Pictured with Susann is Austy. Austin Tyler holds a special place in Susann's heart and inspires many of her stories. Susann designs angel cards and clothing for Halo enterprises, and clothing with the characters from her children's stories are also available. You can contact her for information. She also provides special occasion tea parties for children - Angel's Tea Party.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940043326942
Publisher:	Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
Publication date:	01/28/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	450 KB

About the Author

Susann Batson is an award winning author/illustrator of enchanting stories full of wisdom and whimsy. Her books are fun to read and inspire a child’s imagination. Susann travels to schools throughout the country presenting programs, which include writing and illustrating contests and awarding prizes.

Table of Contents

Quarf! Quarf!" Wiggles shook her long white tail feathers as she practiced her barking that morning.

Wiggles wanted to be a dog. If she were a dog, then maybe everyone would love her. She remembered when she was a duckling. The children played with her then, and cuddled her all the time.

Wiggles lived in the back yard of the Wallace's house on Christopher Road. She had three playmates: Stanley, Shelby, and Sidney. They were Beagles. The four animals played in the backyard, and slept inside the cozy dog kennel.

Sometimes they all went swimming in the small pond at the bottom of the hill.When Adam and Ashley came home from school each day, they would go for a walk with their mother, taking Stanley, Shelby, and Sidney with them. If the children's father came home from work early, he went too.But Wiggles never got to go. She had to stay home. All by herself.

It seemed like the whole family would be gone for hours. Wiggles would get very lonely. She'd hop up onto her soft bed and wait.She sat up a little taller on her bed and took a deep breath. "Quarf!" Well, it was certainly louder. She'd try one more time."Quarfff!" Wiggles wings flapped, taking her into the air. Her orange bill bumped against the latch on the gate, opening it. Wiggles landed on the grass outside the kennel.

"Oh, dear. This has never happened before. I suppose I should go back inside," Wiggles said.

She started to waddle back where she belonged, but paused. She so longed to go for a walk. If the rest of the family didn't want to take her along, why couldn't she take a walk by herself?Wiggles waddled across the lush green lawn, felling quite happy. But when she came to the street, her happiness faded. A car roared down the pavement, blaring its horn!

Editorial Reviews

When Wiggles the Duck was little, the children loved her and played with her all the time. Now no one notices her. Wiggles lives with the Walaces, in the backyard with her three beagle friends. When the children get home from school, they take the beagles for a walk with their mom, and sometimes their dad goes too. But they never take Wiggles.

One day while she practices barking, which sounds more like "Quarf!", she bumps the latch on the gate and it comes open. At last, an opportunity to go for a walk. When a car blares it's horn, she hurries back to her yard. But later she tells the beagles what happened, and they convince Wiggles to show them how she opened the gate, which leads to a scary adventure.

Wiggles teaches a great lesson to young children about being happy with one's self. With humor, wonderfully simple art, and a deft touch, Susann Batson has created a lovely story for young children. I certainly hope to see a lot more from this children's author. -- Cindy Penn

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