Norman, Speak!

…Caroline Adderson’s memorable story is about a family and a dog who grow to understand and love one another.  The writing is insightful without being maudlin… No one will ever forget the joyful Norman as he does his “hula dance of happiness” whenever he sees his owners.

— Canadian Children’s Booknews

— Kirkus Reviews

Throughout this lovely story, it is clear that the boy and his parents love Norman just as he is. Simple ink drawings set against ample white space make the endearing dog come alive on paper.  This title will be a surefire hit with children.

— School Library Journal

The text and the illustrations, drawn in ink and digitally colored, may cause readers to question their own assumptions not only about how animals communicate and whether humans are smarter than animals but also their assumptions about those who speak a language other than English.

— International Reading Association

Adderson’s thought-provoking, diversity-celebrating (oh, so cleverly so!) tale is superlatively enhanced by Qin Leng‘s whimsical, humorous illustrations. Most noteworthy are the expressions Leng imbues on both her canine and human subjects – from the quizzical head tilt to classroom giggles. Get ready to join in on that ”hula dance of happiness.

— BookDragon 

The book is at turns touching, funny, and thanks to a clever twist…educational.  Adderson’s simple, clear-headed prose is complemented by Leng’s splendid illustrations which capture just how much fun, not to mention how much work, it is to own a dog.

— The National Post

In many ways this is reminiscent of Aaron Meshon’s Take Me Out to the Yakyu (2013) in the way that it reinvigorates a common picture book topic by filtering it through a multicultural lens.  Multilingualism is presented as an interesting and immediately rewarding pursuit (cool words like zuoxia help), and Leng’s ink illustrations keep things loose and friendly with almost Tintin-like characters.  Hnho! 

—  Booklist

Overall, Norman, Speak! is highly recommended for children ages four to eight.  The story is adaptable enough to be as simple as necessary for younger audiences and complex enough for older ones.  It encourages the acts of language awareness, diversity, and empathy.  Children with new pets can relate, as can any child who wonders about other cultures.  Norman, Speak! opens a dialogue for new discussions and is the perfect fit for any classroom.

—  Canadian Materials

Turnabouts abound in this tale of a boy who decides his family should take the neediest dog in the shelter for their own (“‘Which dog has been here the longest?’ I asked the shelter woman”). Named Norman by the shelter, the dog seems happy and eager enough, but doesn’t respond to even the simplest commands. But it turns out that Norman is neither untrained nor stupid; a serendipitous meeting in the park with another dog and owner reveals that Norman understands Chinese! So the boy and his parents are off to Chinese language school, where Dad shows himself to be not the best student. “More effort,” the teacher says. “Fewer jokes.” There are lessons here—about patience as well as intercultural understanding—but they’re very lightly worn, and the casual line of the ink-and-color illustrations reminds us that this is a warm family story most of all: “We say, ‘Wo˘mén aì nıˇ, Norman.’ Because we do. We love Norman.”

— The Horn Book

  … the message of “smartness” not being equal to understanding is told without judgement or fear.  This message is an important one for children to learn, especially if they perceive that they themselves are not regarded as smart…  Too often, we misjudge and attribute lack of comprehension to lack of intelligence.  Wrong!  Caroline Adderson brings this revelation to Norman’s people slowly but they get it in the end. They may have been quick to judge Norman but they learn soon enough that understanding has nothing to do with “smarts” but rather familiarity and regular opportunities for practice. Thankfully Norman doesn’t hold their lack of Chinese against them.  Ultimately they are a perfect match, like Caroline Adderson’s text and Qin Leng’s illustrations, but one based in acceptance, not achievement.

— CanLit for Little Canadians

 … [a] heartwarming picturebook that young dog lovers will adore.

— Midwest Book Review

…a lovely picture book. Norman is adopted by a family who wants to give a home to the dog who has been in the shelter the longest. This is the first important lesson offered in this insightful book.

— The Bark

There’s so much to love about Norman, Speak! The story is delightful, a really good family message about not giving up on someone you love, and working together as a family with a goal. Then there’s Qin Leng’s adorable illustrations. Like the people, the dog is expressive and you feel like you really get to know each person.

—Perogies and Gyoza

…[T]he stuff of memorable and heartwarming tales… The solution to the family’s dilemma is handled in a way that will have the audience smiling.  Difficult?  Yes!  Worth the work?  Oh, yes!

— Sal’s Fiction Addiction

Vancouver author Caroline Adderson’s sweet tale is complemented by Toronto artist Qin Leng’s charming illustrations.

— The Waterloo Record

I liked the boy’s determination and perseverance as he tries to learn a new language (especially when his dad gives up) and his dedication to the dog he so badly wanted. With illustrations by Qin Leng that provide a variety of perspectives, the story unfolds with perfect timing, allowing the boy’s voice to shine. Reading this aloud to children will require a few Chinese pronunciation lessons for me, but I know there will be many young volunteers ready to teach this library lady.

— Extended Shelf Life

There is so much to love about this book – and many important messages about language and communicating.

— readingpowergear

I love the premise behind this book: that “different” doesn’t mean “wrong” or, in this case, “stupid.” It’s a smart, well-written and well-illustrated book that will stay with you and I highly recommend it.

— Getting Kids Reading

In this charming picture book we meet a family that adopts a dog only to discover that their initial assessment of him was woefully incorrect. Their dog knows how to do all kind s of things and now they have to find a way to communicate with him. It is wonderful to see how hard they work to solve this problem and how things work out in the end.

—Through the Looking Glass Book Review

Adderson’s gently humorous text leads readers to simply believe that this is the story of a rather slow dog being adopted into a family.  The twist of the language appears abruptly, changing the course of the book and the reader’s opinion of Norman in an instant.  It works tremendously well… A celebration of diversity and differences in doggie form, this picture book is just as clever as Norman.

— Waking Brain Cells