bilbopooh's Full Review: Tomie Depaola - Trouble in the Barkers Class
The arrival of a new student is an exciting moment in any classroom. Usually, it seems that everyone clamors to meet the new person and make him or her feel welcome. That's certainly the case in Tomie DePaola's Trouble in the Barkers' Class. In this case, though, while the children (or, perhaps more accurately, pups) try their hardest to welcome the newcomer, she does not seem appreciative of their actions. No, Carole Anne is a terror, and she doesn't seem to want any friends at all. Could this be true, or is she just putting on a tough-gal act?
The Barker Twins is a series that includes at least two other volumes, neither of which I've read. Although most of DePaola's books seem to focus on human characters, his style is immediately recognizable in a classroom full of dogs, particularly once their faces are visible. Each dog as distinguishing characteristics. Moffie and Morgie, the twins on whom the series is focused, have curly fur; Moffie's is a darker shade of brown than her brother's. Some have short, straight fur and ears that stand erect rather than flopping. Color variations include white, gray and several different shades of brown.
Other than their canine appearance, Moffie, Morgie and their classmates are typical kids. They like to draw pictures, play ball and build with blocks. They enjoy recess; they hate being pushed around. Carole Anne looks dainty enough in her yellow dress, but in reality she is quite gruff, and in most of the pictures, she is scowling. She returns every kind, welcoming gesture with a rude response until all of the classmates decide everyone would be happier if they just ignored her.
I love the attitude of the class throughout most of the book and can't really blame them for their decision to leave Carole Anne alone after she is so mean to them. That seems to be what she wants, after all. I especially like Morgie's willingness to go the extra mile in reaching out to her even after his classmates and sister give up. There's also an educational element of this book as there are a couple of Spanish words sprinkled into the story courtesy of the twins' adopted younger brother, Marcos.
But Carole Anne's motivation, which is revealed at the end of the book, after she has had a change of heart, doesn't make much sense in the context of her warm reception. She tells the class that she was a jerk because she was afraid no one would like her, but she never gives them the chance to like her, and if she was paying any attention at all, she would see that every one of them was trying to be her friend. I guess being nervous in a new situation can cloud one's judgment, but she certainly makes things much more unpleasant than they need to be.
Trouble in the Barkers' Class is a school-themed story about treating others the way you want to be treated. That's an important lesson to learn and have reinforced, and DePaola brings the message across in an entertaining fashion. There are other DePaola books I prefer, but if this story makes children more likely to reach out to each other in kindness, then it gets the OK from me.
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