Tell me if this sounds familiar. Penny Lee loves her TV soooo much that she keeps it on day and night, eating her meals in front of it, and doesn’t really have many friends other than those in her 300 favorite shows. Penny Lee’s dog Mr. Barkley wants Penny’s attention though, and hasn’t quite given up on her, so when she wakes up one morning to find her TV cold and dark, Mr. Barkley takes charge and leads her outside to go down to the repair shop. Along the way they just so happen to get distracted by playing jump rope and hide-and-seek, flying a kite, swimming in a pond, fishing, visiting the library and more, so the repair shop is closed by the time they actually make it there. Penny Lee might get mad, but she has had enough fun with Mr. Barkley that she decides she might not miss her TV so much for just one more day. The twist? After Penny Lee goes to sleep, Mr. Barkley “fixes” the TV by putting the batteries back in the remote. The exaggerated and colorful cartoon art will make anyone laugh, and while you might have to explain the joke at the end to younger readers they will appreciate the humor of a dog rollerblading with his little girl. The end papers – full spread pictures of a TV screen being turned on and then off – are a cute touch as well.
"The cartoon art is lively and engaging. At the beginning of the story, the television takes center stage in every scene. Later, it is smaller and in the background, showing its diminishing role in the girl's life. This is a humorous and entertaining tale that kids and parents alike will enjoy.” School Library Journal
"McCoy's caricatures amuse with large heads, bulbous noses and ever-expressive furrowed brows and round eyes. However, the premise of a kid tricked out of her taste for TV may resonate more with parents than with children." - Publishers Weekly
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