Arthur's Problem Puppy

Laurence Steven is a professor of English at Laurentian University and
the author of Dissociation and Wholeness in Patrick White’s Fiction.

Though Ginette Anfousse has won both the Mr. Christie Book Award and the
Governor General’s Award for her children’s books, Arthur’s
Problem Puppy, at least in this English translation, won’t win her any
prizes. This “first novel” is a conventional story about puppy
problems: peeing, chewing, cat-chasing, neighbor-bothering. As such, it
has (or should have) a certain built-in interest for young children and
beginning readers. But my 5- and 9-year-olds were bored, as was I. The
problem is that the book repeatedly narrates the episodes rather than
enacting them; it tells instead of showing. Add to this a less than
inspired translation from the French and we soon find the pattern in the
wallpaper more intriguing. Finally, as in the following excerpt, the
editing seems shoddy: “Arthur might have had one of his famous temper
tantrums if Sunday (the puppy) hadn’t jumped on him just then,
whimpering as if begging to be forgiven. Begging to be petted and, of
course, forgiven!” The final line sounds like the revision of the
previous one; the editor just forgot to remove the original. As it
stands the book is a good draft; it now needs revision before
publication. Not recommended.