Oh No, George!

by Chris Haughton, Chris Haughton (Illustrator)

Overview

Bold, hilarious artwork captures the innocent charm of affable George, a dog who is trying to be good — with disastrous results.

George is a dog with all the best intentions. And his owner, Harry, has all the best hopes that George will be a well-behaved dog when he leaves him alone for the day. But when George spies a delicious cake sitting on the kitchen table, his resolve starts to waver. You see, George loves cake. . . . Uh-oh. What to do now? It’s so hard to be a good dog when there are cats to chase and flowers to dig up! What ever will Harry say when he gets back? Chris Haughton’s fetchingly funny story and vibrant, retro illustrations are sure to lure dog lovers of all ages — and anyone who has ever met a temptation too good to resist.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536227789
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	10/11/2022
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	224,761
Product dimensions:	9.88(w) x 10.25(h) x 0.17(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Chris Haughton is the author-illustrator of Little Owl Lost, his debut picture book, which won the 2011 Marion Vannett Ridgway Award. He has created and taught many courses in design and illustration around the world. In 2007, he was named one of Time magazine's Design 100 for his work for Fair Trade and People Tree. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Chris Haughton now lives and works as an author-illustrator and designer in London.

Editorial Reviews

George, the hero of this dog-behaving-badly story from Haughton (Little Owl Lost), hits the canine trifecta: oversize snout, floppy ears, and an anguished expression. His body is a polyhedron of warm red and fuchsia, and the house he shares with his troll-like owner, Harry, is similarly bathed in supersaturated hues. George vows to be good when Harry leaves, but he promptly encounters temptation (“It’s cake! I said I’d be good, George thinks, but I love cake”). In a droll parody of an old-fashioned moral lesson, the narrator intones, “What will George do?” as George gazes out at readers with a familiar dog-in-headlights look. The suspense is broken when the page turns to a double spread of George chowing down, as the narrator cries, “Oh no, George!” The results of several errors of judgment greet Harry upon his return. A brief but impressive period of high-minded resolve during a walk is followed by the speedy return of the mush-willed George readers have already grown to love. Behind the dopey entertainment, though, there’s a carefully disciplined visual and verbal economy—evidence of Haughton’s substantial gifts. Ages 2–up. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

The individual’s struggle for self-control is subtly conveyed in George’s story, which manages to make old concept fresh thanks to George’s winning personality and a vibrant, jazzy artistic style... Young children who struggle to follow the rules will feel a bond with George, and the story’s present-tense narration and repeated refrains make this a natural for reading aloud.
—Kirkus Reviews

Haughton’s retro illustrations capture George’s inner turmoil in both the position of his ears and the subtle shift of his eyeballs. Of course, there are no kids out there who struggle with resisting temptation, so this book won’t resonate at all . . . right?
—Booklist

George, the hero of this dog-behaving-badly story from Haughton (LITTLE OWL LOST), hits the canine trifecta: oversize snout, floppy ears, and an anguished expression... George vows to be good when Harry leaves, but he promptly encounters temptation. In a droll parody of an old-fashioned moral lesson, the narrator intones, “What will George do?” as George gazes out at readers with a familiar dog-in-headlights look.
—Publishers Weekly

Haughton’s digitally rendered illustrations have a modern-retro feel, and creative kids will enjoy seeing that the conventional color rules are missing; George is a fuchsia, red, and mulberry delight, while Harry is olive-green with navy blue and aqua hair. Make room in your dog-themed storytimes for this crowd-pleaser.
—School Library Journal

Haughton’s not out to lecture children. George’s crimes are ones of passion, and it’s hysterical. It resonates with anyone with blood pulsing through their veins—and especially with children, who are constantly being told what not to do...It’s another picture book from Candlewick for those who like their droll and understated humor. Don’t resist the temptation to check this one out.
—Kirkus Children's Book blog

An entertaining romp.
—Wall Street Journal

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 2—George wants to be good-he really does-but some temptations are too hard to resist. The pup's first downfall is cake, then the cat, then dirt. Predictably, eating the cake, playing with the cat, and digging in the dirt don't impress Harry, his owner. George is contrite, and after Harry cleans up, they go out for a walk together, and he manages to pass up each of the previous temptations. In the end, though, readers are left to guess whether digging through an interesting-smelling garbage can will prove too big a temptation for the reformed canine. George's exploits are displayed on bright spreads while the repetitive text simply says, "Oh no, George!" leaving readers to infer from the picture what choice he made. Haughton's digitally rendered illustrations have a modern-retro feel, and creative kids will enjoy seeing that the conventional color rules are missing; George is a fuchsia, red, and mulberry delight, while Harry is olive-green with navy blue and aqua hair. Make room in your dog-themed storytimes for this crowd-pleaser.—Amy Commers, South St. Paul Public Library, MN

School Library Journal

George is a gigantic, magenta dog with a purple snout and huge, expressive eyes. He wants to be good and knows the rules of proper behavior, but he can't quite manage to follow them when left alone in the house. The individual's struggle for self-control is subtly conveyed in George's story, which manages to make old concept fresh thanks to George's winning personality and a vibrant, jazzy artistic style. Minimalist illustrations in a combination of pencil and digital media use geometric shapes and a striking palette of bold oranges, red and purples complemented by a contemporary typeface and a large trim. When George's owner, Harry, leaves George at home, the big pooch eats the cake, chases the cat and digs up the plants in a flurry of misbehavior. George is filled with remorse, and with a teary apology, he offers his favorite toy to his owner in recompense. Later, on a walk with his owner, George is able to control himself and bypass similar temptations, but the open-ended conclusion shows George next to an overflowing trashcan, with a decision to make about his next move. Young children who struggle to follow the rules will feel a bond with George, and the story's present-tense narration and repeated refrains make this a natural for reading aloud. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews