Smart George

Name: Smart George
ISBN: 9798855040487

For the child who struggles to meet grown-up expectations or feels pressured to perform, George's humorous animal impressions offer a silly look at communication.

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About This Book

Reach for this book when your child is feeling the weight of performance pressure or struggling to meet specific adult expectations. While ostensibly about a dog who refuses to bark, it is really a clever exploration of communication and the desire to surprise or even outsmart the adults in our lives. George is a small dog whose mother is desperate for him to bark, but instead, he meows, quacks, and oinks. The absurdist humor masks a deeper theme regarding the frustration and joy of being misunderstood. For children ages 3 to 6, this story provides a safe, silly space to process feelings of defiance and the pride that comes with having a secret talent. Parents will appreciate how Jules Feiffer captures the exhaustion of parenting alongside the unpredictable brilliance of childhood.

Dogs Self-Confidence & Identity Being Different Humor Animals Anger & Frustration Becoming a Big Kid Joy & Gratitude

What Parents Should Know

Mild PerilMild

A vet reaches deep into the dog's mouth to pull out other animals, which might look odd to some.

Sensitive Topics

The book deals with the pressure to conform and the parent-child power dynamic. The vet's procedure of pulling live animals out of George's mouth is surreal and metaphorical, handled with cartoonish lightness rather than medical realism. It is secular and ends on a note of mischievous ambiguity.