Title: Oh No, George!
Author/Illustrator: Chris Haughton
Published: Candlewick Press, 2012

Can I just gush for a moment about the beauty of a good board book? A good board book is a work of art, really. I feel like board books are just usually overlooked or underrated. They’re for babies, after all! They’re meant to be manhandled and chewed, right? Well, yes. But also read! They’re also meant to be read. And these are some of a baby’s first stories. So it’s important that they’re well-written and engaging and that the art is captivating. Fortunately, Oh No, George! is all that and more.

Oh No, George! is all about an adorable (and large) dog trying to be good while his owner, Harry, goes out for a bit. George goes so far as to promise Harry that he’ll be good. Very good!

But promises are meant to be broken, aren’t they?

George has a good heart and the best of intentions. He WANTS to behave himself. There are just so many temptations. Cake, for instance. How is a dog supposed to just walk on by and ignore something as tasty as a cake?
(Spoiler alert: he doesn’t.)

Next, there’s a cat. Well, you know cats need chasing. So George takes care of that.

Finally, there are some lovely indoor plants. George just has to have a little dig. And then Harry returns. You can imagine his reaction when he sees what George has done.

George realizes how upset Harry is. George knows how naughty he’s been. And he’s sorry…really sorry. He decides to give Harry one of his toys to make up for it. Harry suggests a walk.

But even outside there are temptations.  Another cake (but this time, George walks right by). There’s the cat! (George doesn’t even try to chase the cat!) And then…there’s a garbage can full of delightful trash.

And we’re left wondering: what will George do?

This book was given to me as a gift for my oldest daughter’s baby shower. (Thanks for the book, cousin Jo!) I hadn’t heard of it before, but I immediately loved it. When I first started reading it to Vivi, she was too young to appreciate the art or the text, but as she grew, she asked for the book by name. When Lily came along, she also fell for George. The art is so colourful, yet simple. George’s expressions are endearing. I always read George with kind of a low, slow voice. He’s a bit dumb, but very friendly (according to my interpretation). Harry is always British and slightly annoyed. Think “Harvey P. Dull” from The Furchester Hotel, but a bit less whiny. Just my suggestions, of course. You do you!

Mama’s Review: A
Vivi’s Review: “I always liked George.”
Lily’s Review: “I like when he chased the cat and ate the cake. Heh, heh.”