Alfred's Nose, by Vivienne Flesher
BOOK LINKS
Reviewed by Michael Rosser
This is a delightful and unusual children’s book (ages 3 +) — and it’s for adults as well, particularly Frenchie owners.
Everybody loves Alfred the French Bulldog as he is, but Alfred worries about his looks, especially his nose. Alfred tries a children’s party costume, glasses, a coonskin hat, various disguises and masks in a hilarious Frenchie Pilgrim’s Progress. Eventually he finds contentment. (Vivienne has stated that she wrote the book to help children accept themselves.)
Vivienne Flesher is a talented artist and photographer and a freelance illustrator. Her drawings are on US postage stamps, and over the years her work has appeared in Time, Rolling Stone, The New York Times and other publications, as well as various children’s books.
Vivienne could never understand why there were so few photographic children’s books, given that photography is such a potent medium. Alfred’s Nose is a great contribution to remedying that problem, a joy to look at, fun and a really warm Frenchie journey.
The wonderful magazine titled Bark (March/April 2008 issue) devotes four pages of questions and answers and pictures in an interview with Vivienne in a revealing article which you should read if you can. Vivienne tested the draft book by reading it at various nearby schools. She reports that “In one class I taught the kids to make their own books. One of the little boys was aghast to hear that it took me two years to write Alfred’s Nose. What was wrong with me? he asked – he’d finished his book in a couple of hours!”
In communications with this reviewer, Vivienne answered questions:
“Alfred was 9 ½ when he died, a week after I sold my book. He began to go grey at only 3 ½ years. He was a delight, always a polite fellow. But Alfred was an explorer especially at other peoples’ homes. I would catch him climbing on table tops and book cases – not looking for food but to see something that caught his eye. A vase, a mirror, a microwave oven, they were all very interesting to him.
He also had very bad gas and could clear a room faster than a fire drill. I do miss him, that bad dog! He was perfect for me. I hope I was as good for him. I was fortunate to have him, he was a special little dumpling! … While I loved Alfred and I know I could easily love another dog, I want to travel again and I’m working around the clock, so now just doesn’t seem like the right time.”
Vivienne hopes to be at our National Specialty show in October to do a book signing and to sponsor our Frenchie Costume Contest. You will probably want to buy several extra copies to use as gifts!
HarperCollins 2008 hardcover book with dustwrapper, 32 pages, 8 ¼” x 9 ¼”, fine layout, design and production. US $ 16.99. The book is available via Amazon and there are book readings and signings in San Francisco on 13 and 18 April 2008 and others subsequently. See more at www.alfredthebulldog.com
Reviewed by Michael Rosser
Everybody loves Alfred the French Bulldog as he is, but Alfred worries about his looks, especially his nose. Alfred tries a children’s party costume, glasses, a coonskin hat, various disguises and masks in a hilarious Frenchie Pilgrim’s Progress. Eventually he finds contentment. (Vivienne has stated that she wrote the book to help children accept themselves.)
Vivienne Flesher is a talented artist and photographer and a freelance illustrator. Her drawings are on US postage stamps, and over the years her work has appeared in Time, Rolling Stone, The New York Times and other publications, as well as various children’s books.
Vivienne could never understand why there were so few photographic children’s books, given that photography is such a potent medium. Alfred’s Nose is a great contribution to remedying that problem, a joy to look at, fun and a really warm Frenchie journey.
The wonderful magazine titled Bark (March/April 2008 issue) devotes four pages of questions and answers and pictures in an interview with Vivienne in a revealing article which you should read if you can. Vivienne tested the draft book by reading it at various nearby schools. She reports that “In one class I taught the kids to make their own books. One of the little boys was aghast to hear that it took me two years to write Alfred’s Nose. What was wrong with me? he asked – he’d finished his book in a couple of hours!”
In communications with this reviewer, Vivienne answered questions:
“Alfred was 9 ½ when he died, a week after I sold my book. He began to go grey at only 3 ½ years. He was a delight, always a polite fellow. But Alfred was an explorer especially at other peoples’ homes. I would catch him climbing on table tops and book cases – not looking for food but to see something that caught his eye. A vase, a mirror, a microwave oven, they were all very interesting to him.
He also had very bad gas and could clear a room faster than a fire drill. I do miss him, that bad dog! He was perfect for me. I hope I was as good for him. I was fortunate to have him, he was a special little dumpling! … While I loved Alfred and I know I could easily love another dog, I want to travel again and I’m working around the clock, so now just doesn’t seem like the right time.”
Vivienne hopes to be at our National Specialty show in October to do a book signing and to sponsor our Frenchie Costume Contest. You will probably want to buy several extra copies to use as gifts!
HarperCollins 2008 hardcover book with dustwrapper, 32 pages, 8 ¼” x 9 ¼”, fine layout, design and production. US $ 16.99. The book is available via Amazon and there are book readings and signings in San Francisco on 13 and 18 April 2008 and others subsequently. See more at www.alfredthebulldog.com