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"Five Good Questions" for Martha Speaks author Susan Meddaugh
Talking dogs are now a regular sighting at PBS KIDS, thanks to Susan Meddaugh.
Susan is one of the creative minds behind "Martha Speaks," a new kids show on PBS KIDS. As author and illustrator of the book series that inspired the show, Susan tells the story of a dog named Martha who finds herself with a lot to say after eating alphabet soup.
A conversation with Susan's son, Niko, actually inspired the "Martha Speaks" books. Over a bowl of alphabet soup Niko, then just seven years old, wondered if feeding some soup to their dog Martha might allow her to speak. Susan has written six books about Martha since.
Susan grew up in New Jersey, then studied art and illustration before beginning a career in advertising. She later worked for a publishing company before authoring her own children's books. Susan has been recognized for her work by the New England Booksellers Association and the New York Times.
Now that we've heard Martha speak, we wanted to hear from Susan, so we invited her to be our latest guest here at "Five Good Questions"; she kindly agreed.
Share your questions, and I'll pick five good ones for Susan to answer. I will post her answers next week.
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Thank you very much for the sharing
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5 Good Questions
Hi, thank you for reading my questions.
1.If you, like Martha, had a chance to speak after not having the ability to, who would you like to speak to and why?
Thank you. Donna
Susan, how do you think the
Susan, how do you think the story about Martha would've been different if told by your son, Niko, when he was seven?
5 Good Questions
I love the premise of this show and it sounds like a show my 2 1/2 year old will LOVE! Especially b/c my husband has a special "voice" he uses to indicate our dog is talking and my sons laughs every time.
I understand the idea came from your son, but is Martha based on a real-life dog? How did you choose her personality traits?
Susan Meddaugh
Please convey to Susan that the children's literature faculty at San Diego State Univ., where we have a huge program and a book review site (childlit.sdsu.edu) much admires her books. We reviewed Martha Speaks when it first came out and have been enjoying her funny, wise books since then. My favorite is Martha and Skits, which handles a difficult existential problem (I'm not as good as you...) with panache.
Best regards, Alida Allison
Martha Speaks
Do you find that when you watch your stories in live action that it inspires you to write new stories?
Question from Noah (4)
Noah (age 4) and Evan (2) love watching Martha Speaks! Here's Noah's question:
Why is Martha a girl?
Noah and Evan's Dad would like to know:
Why does Martha sound kinda like Word Girl?
Thanks!
-- Amy, on behalf of N & E
Hello Noah
Martha is not a girl.
It's a dog.
Martha
We have so many questions about new things in life don't we? It's helpul when we learn as children that everything in the universe comes from a Mommy and a Daddy. So Martha is just like us... girl or boy... it's ok.
Dear Susan Meddaugh, My name
Dear Susan Meddaugh,
My name is Aya Henry, and I'm nine years old. My dog Cally was hospitalized because she ate some grapes. She got very sick and our vet was able to get her better. My family didn't know that grapes were toxic for some cats and dogs. I enjoy watching your show every moning and I thought that it would make a good story that Martha could dicuss on your show and it might save some lives of cats and dogs.
My mom said I shouldn't leave my phone number on this page, so If you would like more information, just e-mail me back
Thank you
Aya Henry
I have a question, Can alaphabet soup
Can Alphabet soup wear off on Martha, thus allowing her to stop speaking at a certain point? I saw the episode where Martha helped in a small crime and then didn't want to talk about it and then later I heard Helen comment, "Martha, why are you barking, we need to feed you more alphabet soup," or something along those lines, thus leading me to believe that she is only able to speak so long without it. Is this true or not? Also, I am 21 years old and watch this show.
well
well, robert. i thnk it is because it has to sound more convincing...
thus making it easier for little kids to understand that a dog is talking at alphabet soup is why.
martha
what kind of breed is martha
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nice
I agree. Nice book for us.
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