Module 10: Seadogs: An Epic Ocean Operetta

Summary:A little girl dog goes to the opera with her mother. The opera starts. An old sailor seadog longs to go back to see and buys a ship with three friends. The ship is beautiful and they prepare it to sail. Once at sea, the ship is attached by pirates and they stole their loot but dropped a treasure map. They then find a stowaway pup. The seadogs head for the treasure on the island and begin to dig. Once they find the treasure chest they are found by the pirates. They escape and head for home. The old seadog stays behind with the pup while the friends sail on. The opera ends and everyone loves it, especially the little girl.


Citation:
Wheeler, Lisa, and Mark Siegel. Seadogs: an Epic Ocean Operetta. New York: Atheneum for Young Readers, 2004. Print.

Impressions:
This imaginative graphic novel was wonderful and needs to be read or sung aloud to get the true effect. The illustrations alone could entertain a child for hours and tell the story very well without a lot of text.

 Reviews:


PreS-Gr. 2. A little Victorian girl dog goes to see a performance of Seadogs, an operetta, in this bouncy, colorful picture book that unfolds in detailed, comics-like panels. Children experience the event from the eager pup's largely silent perspective, getting a few backstage peeks as well as views of the audience and orchestra--and of the performance itself. The operetta concerns an old seadog who gathers a crew for one last adventure--among them, a good-hearted bar mistress and a young pup of dubious ancestry. The lyrics to the songs, usually boxed, tell about what's going on in the present (the daily chores, the unexpected appearance of pirates) and about the life each old dog left to come aboard. The little girl pup loves the show and remembers lively scenes from it in her memory as the hansom cab carries her away. A delightful book to share with pre-readers, who can return to the pictures on their own and relive the tandem stories of a grown-up night out and an epic voyage. Melodies for the songs would have made this graphic novel for the picture-book set even better. Francisca Goldsmith
Copyright © American Library Association., Booklist


Grade 1-4--Wheeler and Siegel do many things well in their comic-book-style story, but an unnecessarily convoluted plot ultimately sinks this lighthearted adventure. The opening illustrations show an excited pup arriving at the theater and the canine cast members getting ready backstage. Once the curtain rises, the tale is related through funny songs and verses. Old Seadog (the captain), Brave Beagle, and her love (a cowardly dachshund) set sail on the Beauty. They soon encounter a "Mongrel Horde" led by Captain Jacques Fifi. As the three friends hide, the pirates board their ship, loot it, and then, surprisingly, return to their own vessel. During the raid, Captain Fifi accidentally drops a treasure map and a stowaway sneaks aboard. This chubby little pup soon wins Old Seadog's heart. The heroes sail to the treasure isle and find the hoard, only to lose it again, but in the end, they realize that their true treasure is adventure and love. The text contains a good deal of whimsical humor and wordplay. The catchy verses milk the canine puns for all they're worth, but this slows the pace considerably. The cartoons add detail and comic twists; they often belie the words they accompany to ironic effect. Ultimately, the story feels a bit forced and drawn out; the pirates lack bite and adults will best appreciate much of the humor. With not enough action and too much verse, this venture comes up short.--Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA
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Use in Library Setting:
The book would be wonderful if used in a storytime presentation, complete with props and singing.