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Written and illustrated by Daniel Cleary
Blue Apple Books, 2010
$10.99, ages 4-8, 56 pages
A grouchy dog made from pencil scribble discovers that good friends are hard to ditch in this hilarious debut set on the pages of a notebook.
As Smudge the dog scuttles across a sheet of lined paper, one friend after another comes from behind, asking if they can join him on his walk.
But Smudge doesn't want company, and he isn't afraid to be blunt about it. Every time a friend asks to tag along, he cuts him off with a few terse words.
First his guinea pig friend Piggie, a soft smeary fellow with faint little legs and a wisp of a tail, scampers up to Smudge and asks where he's going.
Without even looking back, Smudge grumps, "Somewhere. And stop following me."
Ignoring his testiness, Guinea Pig presses Smudge to explain why, and Smudge snaps back with the evasiveness of someone trying to keep a secret.
"Because," Smudge mutters impatiently, then quickly walks to the next page.
But Piggie wants a better answer than that and asks, "Because why?" and now Smudge is really peeved.
Running further ahead on the page line, Smudge vents, "Because you ask too many questions is why."
This time Smudge has gone too far and he knows it. But why isn't Piggie listening to him?
As Piggie hangs back, not saying a word, Smudge could easily make a break for it to the next page, but he doesn't.
Instead, Smudge glances back at Piggie and asks, "Are you still back there?" (as if he doesn't already know it).
When Piggie doesn't answer, Smudge turns around and tells Piggie in the most apologetic voice he can muster, "Listen, Piggie. I have stuff to do. Okay?"
Okay. Piggie is willing to cut him some slack, but he isn't abo
1 Comments on Stop Bugging Me!, last added: 9/23/2010
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I like the book cover. Sounds like a fun book to read.