Stella, Unleashed: Notes from the Doghouse

Written by Linda Ashman, Illustrated by Paul Meisel.
Sterling, 2008.  978-1402739873.

Reviews

“[A] hilarious look at the world through the sharp eyes and nose of a dog. Stella’s not only smart, but she’s also opinionated, and readers will roar at her comments about her family.” —Scripps Howard News Service

“Stella, a newly adopted pound pooch, tells all in 29 poems, humorously describing her life. The final selection, ‘At Your Service,’ sums up why dog lovers exist. Ideal for family read-alouds.” —School Library Journal

“Ashman’s poems are lots of fun . . . .Busy, gleeful pictures extend the comedy of Ashman’s verses, with Stella, alternately naughty and nice, at the center of it all.” —Booklist

“The amusing, well-written poems are presented in a variety of formats. Meisel’s illustrations bring Stella and her family to life with a bright palette of cheerful colors and a cast of characters that have real personality.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Linda Ashman’s poetry in ‘Stella, Unleashed’ is as cheeky and exuberant as a puppy.” —Seattle Times

About this Story

At Your Service

Alarm clock
Vacuum
Foot-warmer
Guard
Inspector of the Kitchen
Ruler of the Yard

Doorbell
Jester
Teammate
Doll
Protector of the House
Retriever of the Ball

Quick to give comfort
Slow to offend
Keeper of secrets
Friend to the end

“At Your Service” is the last poem in the book, but was actually the first one I wrote for this collection. The original title was “For Nicky,” in honor of our (at the time) 13-year-old pooch, a Lab/​Australian Shepherd mix. I was in my office one morning when Nicky came in and sat down beside my desk, as she typically did while I worked. I looked into her soulful brown eyes and wondered what she’d tell me if she could speak.

This book is my attempt to speak for her, an oddly easy thing to do, as it turned out. Nicky was an extremely strong-willed, opinionated girl, and she was clear about her likes and dislikes. And one thing she liked very much was food, as reflected in “Don’t Blame Me,” the second poem I wrote (based on actual incidents, though you’d have to substitute “huge wedge of cheese” and “blueberry scone” for “steak”):

You placed the steak on the table’s edge,
then walked out of the room.
There’s no one here except for me.
What else would I assume?

I had so much fun writing this book, and loved working with my editor at Sterling, Meredith Mundy Wasinger, a fellow dog-lover. And I’m so pleased to have this book as a reminder of my great, funny friend, Nicky.

Paul Meisel’s illustrations are wonderfully bright and colorful, and are filled with warmth and humor. And I love that he included Nicky on the dedication page opposite Stella (he also shows Meredith’s pug and designer Lauren Rille’s Jack Russell Terrier on the copyright page).

Nicky died in 2007 at the great old age of 15, just a year after we lost Remy, our sweet pound pup. We miss them both.

With Nicky (aka Stella), circa 2006.