#Booky100Keepers Day 13: "Dr Dog" and "A Dose of Dr Dog" by Babette Cole (Red Fox Picture Books)

Subversive, cheeky, fantastic. Just three words to describe the late great Babette Cole - whose "Dr Dog" books were demanded almost nightly by C back in the days when our blog began. We originally borrowed these from our local library before buying our own copies as it was just easier than borrowing and renewing them.

"Dr Dog" introduces the titular medical hound and his irrepressibly terrible family, the Gumboyles. It's quite handy having a doctor on the premises as each of the Gumboyles seems hell bent on a path to destruction, gloriously described by Babette's cheeky storytelling and equally cheeky illustrations.

Kurt Gumboyles likes nothing better than sneaking off for a crafy cigarette behind the bike sheds, while Grandad Gumboyle can't resist a huge plate of baked beans and a couple of pints of beer - before blowing the house down with his mighty farts.

It's enough to stress a dog out, even a doctor so it's rather nice when poor Doc Dog flits off at the end of the book for some much needed R & R - sadly short lived when his family join him on holiday...leading perfectly into...

"A Dose of Dr Dog" - That rare thing, a sequel that's every bit as brilliant as the original book this time with Dr Dog aided by the long lost Professor Dash Hund, who assists the good doctor with a series of useful topical cures for the family's holiday ailments.

From a gigantic (and rather over-zealously depicted) boil on the bum to a serious case of sunburn Doc and Dash keep the family out of trouble once again, up to the point when the nasty nosenips threaten to make a meal of the Gumboyles once and for all.

Babette brilliantly works in some neat facts into a story that bounces along superbly, as the long suffering doctor triumphs. We always wondered if Babette would ever write another one, but sadly she was taken from us, a hugely sad loss of an amazingly talented lady whose books have been beloved by generations of kids.

Original Review Links:

Dr Dog

A Dose of Dr. Dog by Babette Cole (Jonathan Cape Ltd)