Martha Speaks

Martha Speaks
By:  Susan Meddaugh
Copyright 1992
Sandpiper
Fantasy Genre

                                                                     Martha Speaks

     There are a lot of children who seem to love animals and animal stories. This is one reason I think students would really enjoy this book. Martha Speaks is about a dog that acquires the ability to speak after eating alphabet soup. At first Martha's owners find it impressive that she can speak. They begin asking her all kinds of questions. However, after a while, Martha's family gets embarrassed by Martha's lack of social skills and aggravated by her chattering. The book ends with Martha saving her family's home from begin robbed. While this has not been my favorite book I have read this semester, I do think that students would enjoy the humor and fantasy of a speaking dog. I know that this book is also part of a series. It would be great if the students got interested in this book and wanted to continue reading, especially with the other Martha books.