Customer Reviews
More in the LaRue Series 
2008-08-01
Our favorite wire fox terrier continues his adventures. More fun and mischeiviousness from our funny boy!
Tells of a dog determined to uphold the laws of Snort City 2008-06-15
Mark Teague's LARUE FOR MAYOR: LETTERS FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL tells of a dog determined to uphold the laws of Snort City - and determined to gain the votes from Intelligent Voters. His efforts take the form of whimsical, fun letters and communications with his potential voters in this hilarious story of a dog's bid for public office.
LaRue for Mayor 
2008-06-07
The bizarre behavior of the dogs in this book is no example for children in achieving their mission. I expected LaRue to be a model candidate which he was not. I would not recommend this book for children of any age although it was highly recommended in an article I read in a local newspaper. It isn't even humorous unless you think attacking dogs upsetting everything in their path is humorous.
The graphics are colorful and well done, however, that's why I gave it two stars.
Misleading 
2008-06-01
You have to look really hard to see that this book is in Spanish. We don't speak Spanish. I had to donate it to the Spanish teacher at my daughter's school. It would cost me the price of the book to return it. And you do not have the English version.
Book Review: LaRue for Mayor 
2008-04-26
With election season in full tilt "LaRue for Mayor" comes along to join in the politicking.
The plot is this: Hugo Bugwort is running for mayor and he is a very anti-dog candidate. Ike sabotages Bugwort's campaign and eventually tries to start his own candidacy.
If you're reading a LaRue book (there have been two previous titles), you're gonna get two things: written correspondence and vocab. "Mayor" continues this trend. In the first page Mrs. LaRue is sent to the hospital, forcing her dog, Ike, to communicate with her through letters. The gaps in the story are filled in nicely with articles from the daily newspaper. I'm sure that inventive teachers have used LaRue books for teaching letter writing - they can now incorporate "Mayor" as well.
Some sample vocabulary? Perilous, scurrilous, doubtless - these are not your run of the mill words for a picture book. And that's just a sample from one page. You've got to hand it to Mark Teague for using this language in a context that will help kids understand it. That's learning y'all!
The artwork is spot on. Do I need to mention that this is Mr. Teague we're talking about? The man's already on Children's Lit Rushmore (well, my Children's Lit Rushmore - ask to see the plaster of paris model I'm working on in my garage), and really requires no further comment other than "It's the cat's pajamas".
The storyline is where I start to have some hesitations. The plot makes sense, but it's not quite as compelling as the previous "LaRue" installments. Ike filling in Mrs. LaRue about the state of Bugwort's campaign didn't have me turning the pages with the same level anticipation as in the past. This is, mind you, a minor quibble with an overall winner.
We Like Ike!! 2008-02-22
Ike finds his civil liberties at risk when Hugo Bugwort, the hard line mayoral candidate, promises to crack down on free-roaming, fun-loving dogs. As the anti-dog rhetoric escalates, Ike is compelled to join the political fray and run for mayor himself. Bugwort rethinks his pooch-policies when Ike selflessly helps rescue him after he collapses at a campaign rally. Told through letters to Mrs. LaRue and local newspaper accounts, Mark Teague delivers another excellent execution of split-screen visuals and uproarious escapades of the unforgettable Ike.
I Like Ike 2008-02-19
While by nature I'm more of a cat person (I have two), I can't help but think that a lovely little dog like Ike LaRue would make life a lot of fun. LaRue for Mayor is the third book in which Ike has wowed readers with his cunning intelligence, playful antics and knack for being in the right place at the right time.
In this third book, Mrs. LaRue is in the hospital, and Ike is writing her to complain how unjust it is that dog-hater Hugo Bugwort is running for Mayor of Snort City. Sure some dogs over-turned a hot-dog cart and disrupted a baseball game, but isn't that just the spirited behavior of a few dogs? Should Bugwort be proposing a leash law, a curfew and a ban on canines in most public places? Ike thinks not, and decides to run for Mayor himself.
Teague really has created a wonderful picture book that will appeal to both children and adults. For kids there are bold, brightly colored illustrations of dogs behaving rather mischievously. For adults there are the contrasting black and white illustrations of Ike imagining his actions to be more grandiose than they really are. Ike is a small dog with a big personality, and I can't say it any better than to say I LIKE IKE. I think you will too.
For the rest of this review and other reading suggestions, see my site.
