ANNOTATION

Bossy Moffie and her quiet twin brother Morgie both enjoy starting school, especially getting gold stars and making new friends.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Barker twins, Morgan and Moffat, are so excited. They are about to start school for the first time. Moffie knows all the colors (and gets a gold star) and Morgie makes a friend. Moffie knows all the numbers (and gets another gold star). But she needs a friend, and with a little help from Morgie, she makes one. Then Morgie shows he knows the names of the dinosaurs (and gets a gold star). Now they both have gold stars and friends. Whether they are learning new things, making new friends or just having fun, Morgie and Moffie-the irresistible Barker twins-both LOVE school! Based on the personalities of his own Welsh terriers, Tomie dePaola has created two new characters everyone will love!

SYNOPSIS

Whether they are learning new things, making new friends or just having fun, Morgie and Moffie-the irresistible Barker twins-both LOVE school! Based on the personalities of his own Welsh terriers, Tomie dePaola has created two new characters everyone will love!

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature

We meet the charming, anthropomorphic Welsh terrier twins as they go to school for the first time. At first, Moffie is the bossy eager achiever, while Morgie is busy making friends, but both soon settle into the routine, ending by loving school. Simply told but filled with realistic school activities, this tale introduces a pair that readers will probably look forward to meeting again. The artist's style is unmistakably his own—heavy outlines, tints of color that stay within the lines, almost no perspective, lots of small scenes, only the most basic of contextual details. In these settings he loads emotions familiar to his audience, from impatience and jealousy to pride in accomplishments. 2001, G. P. Putnam's Sons, $13.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-Tomie dePaola introduces this "Special Appearance Video," telling young viewers about his own first day at school, and giving additional insights into what inspired him to write this book (Penguin/Putnam, 2001). Puppies Morgan and Moffat are off to school. Despite being twins, this brother and sister are quite different. While Moffie garners gold stars by the dozens, Morgie's people skills enable him to make many new friends. Eventually Moffie realizes that perhaps there's more to life than gold stars, and Morgie helps her learn to get along with others. On the other hand, Morgie learns that his dinosaur knowledge is good for a gold star. There's typical sibling rivalry in this gentle story, but issues are resolved amicably. DePaola's trademark bright and blocky illustrations are scanned iconographically, with minor animation added. The female narrator creates unique voices for each of the characters as bouncy, but not overwhelming, background music plays. Young viewers will appreciate Morgan and Moffat's experiences, and compare them to their own introduction to school. Primary teachers might find this a useful program for that first week of classes, while it would lead naturally into a writing assignment on school experiences for older students.-Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

The ageless dePaola casts two of his own Welsh terriers in this carefully constructed series kickoff. When Morgan and his type-A older twin sister, Moffat, start school, he proceeds to make friends by sharing his dinosaur book, but doesn't shine as a student, while she apple-polishes her way to a row of gold stars. The roles reverse at week's end when Morgan suggests that Moffat and rival, Sally, put up a block tower together, rather than compete with each other, and then goes on to earn a star of his own when the teacher asks if anyone can name some dinosaurs. Besides building his story around personality differences and conflict resolution, dePaola has enlisted a literacy consultant, evidently to ensure that his prose is accessible to beginning readers. Which it is—delivering modeled behavior in light, positive ways, and fleshing out his puppy protagonists with artfully presented differences and similarities, he has crafted a tale that all brand-new grade-schoolers will effortlessly absorb and enjoy. (Picture book. 5-7)