Author: Dodie Smith
Illustrators: Janet and Anne Grahame-Johnstone
Publisher: Mammoth, $16.95
Age Group: 8-11 years
The Nannies gave Missis a big lunch to keep her strength up, and Pongo a big lunch in case he should feel neglected (as the fathers of expected puppies sometimes do), and then both dogs had a long afternoon
nap on the best sofa. By the time Mr Dearly came home from business they were wide awake and asking for a walk.
"Let us all go for a walk to celebrate," said Mr Dearly, after hearing the good news. Nanny Cook said the dinner was well ahead and Nanny Butler said she could do with a bit of exercise, so off they all set along the Outer Circle.
The Dearlys led the way, Mrs Dearly very pretty in the green going-away suit from her trousseau and Mr Dearly in his old tweed jacket which was known as his dog-walker. (Mr Dearly wasn't exactly handsome but he had the kind of face you don't get tired of.) Then came the Pongos, looking noble; they could both have become Champions if Mr Dearly had not felt that dog-shows would bore them - and him. They had splendid heads, fine shoulders, strong legs and straight tails. The spots on their bodies were jet-black and mostly the size of a two-shilling piece; they had smaller spots on their heads, legs and tails. Their noses and eye-rims were black. Missis had a most winning expression. Pongo, though a dog born to command, had a twinkle in his eye.
(Continued on p5 of The One Hundred and One Dalmations
* Next week's book: The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell.
