Kids into books: The Hundred and One Dalmatians

Author: Dodie Smith

Illustrators: Janet and Anne Grahame-Johnstone

Publisher: Mammoth, $16.95

Age Group: 8-11 years


Not long ago, there lived in London a young married couple of Dalmatian dogs named Pongo and Missis Pongo. (Missis had added Pongo's name to her own on their marriage, but was still called Missis by most people).

They were lucky enough to own a young married couple of humans named Mr and Mrs Dearly, who were gentle, obedient and unusually intelligent - almost canine at times.

They understood quite a number of barks: the barks for 'Out, please!', 'In, please!', 'Hurry up with my dinner!' and 'What about a walk?' And even when they could not understand, they could often guess - if looked at soulfully or scratched by an eager paw.

Like many other much-loved humans, they believed that they owned their dogs, instead of realising that their dogs owned them. Pongo and Missis found this touching and amusing and let their pets think it was true.