Marley

March 19, 2007
Moving at a clip worthy of the barreling pooch at its heart, Grogan's anecdotal adaptation of his bestselling memoir, Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
speaks to a middle-grade audience. The same eye-catching photo from the original jacket graces this version, and the narrative maintains all the energy, humor and poignancy of the adult book. It will surely hold youngsters' attention—despite the absence of peers (Grogan's own, younger children play but minor roles)—thanks to the pooch's kid-pleasing shenanigans. Marley strews toilet paper throughout the house so that "the place looked like it had been decorated for Halloween," eats everything he can get his paws on (including toy soldiers, pen caps and towels, pieces of which "came out the other end"), and knocks framed photos and bottles off tabletops as he enthusiastically wags "his whole body,... like the canine version of a Slinky." In other comical highlights, the dog lands a role in a movie and misbehaves on the set, and, at an outdoor restaurant, pulls the family's table along the sidewalk in pursuit of a fetching French poodle. The tale takes an inevitable somber turn as the happy-go-lucky pet ages. But Grogan leaves young readers with fond memories of this exasperating yet thoroughly endearing creature. Ages 8-12.

July 9, 2007
Harris, currently starring in the TV sitcom
How I Met Your Mother
, but better known to many as Doogie Howser, M.D., turns in a energized and heartfelt reading of Grogan’s adaptation for young people of his bestseller,
Marley and Me
. In this version, the story of Marley, the incorrigible yellow Labrador retriever who could eat the sheetrock right off the wall while retaining his heart of gold remains largely the same, sans the more adult subject matter: marriage, miscarriages, sex and crime. Harris’s voice is crisp, sharp and precise, yet filled with warmth, a verbal approach that parallels Grogan’s writing style. Trained as a journalist, Grogan naturally balances removed observation with deep emotions. Here, author and narrator make a strong team; this presentation is a great family listen. Ages 8-up.