Shaggy Dog and the Terrible Itch

Author: David Bedford

Illustrator: Gwyneth Williamson

For Ages: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 30

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Year: 2001

ISBN: 978-1-84506-313-9

Meet adorable, hairy and itchy Shaggy Dog. He tries to get his friends to help scratch his back but unfortunately, their assistance comes with conditions attached. He rounds up the sheep for Farmer Gertie, washes Merv’s pots and pans. They scratch his back but the relief is temporary until Shaggy Dog walks into Mary Lou’s Poodle Parlour.  

I thought this book was quite clever, in that, the reason for the itch is never once mentioned but the illustrations give away the culprit.

Excerpt

Shaggy Dog washed towers and towers of pots and pans. Bubbles covered his legs and got into his mouth, and when he had finished, his paws were all wrinkly.

Merv used a long fork to scratch Shaggy Dog’s back.

“Ooh, ooh!” said Shaggy Dog. “That’s much better.”