Norman, Speak!

A comical yet thought-provoking story, Norman, Speak! follows a boy and his family who adopt a dog that just can’t seem to learn the things other dogs do. Overwhelmed by dogs in need at the local animal shelter, a young boy chooses Norman, the stray who has been there the longest. But, upon bringing him home, the family quickly learns that Norman won’t respond to commands. He doesn’t even know his own name. During a chance encounter with another dog owner in the park, the family is very surprised to learn the reason for Norman’s confusion; he “speaks” Chinese instead of English! And so the family enrolls in a language class, determined to understand their uniquely loveable pet. The humorous text from award-winning author Caroline Adderson and Qin Leng’s delightful illustrations combine to create a picture book that will be enjoyed by readers (and dogs) no matter what language they speak.

Caroline Adderson is the author of award-winning books for adults and children. She lives in Vancouver. Qin Leng lives and works as a designer and illustrator in Toronto.