Author & Illustrator Profile
Susan Meddaugh
6 Books
Susan Meddaugh is an author and illustrator who creates humorous and engaging picture books for children. She is best known as the creator of the popular Martha Speaks series, starring a lovable dog who gains the ability to talk after eating alphabet soup. In addition to writing and illustrating her own stories, she has brought many other authors' tales to life with her lively visual style. Her expressive artwork and clever narratives have made her a staple in children's literature.
Books in "Martha Speaks"
Martha has never met a telephone she does not want to use. So when this chatty dog calls a radio contest and wins a weekend trip for her whole family, vacation sounds perfect until the hotel has one big rule: no dogs allowed.
Martha is not the kind of dog who stays quietly hidden in a room. She wants fresh air, fun, and a fair chance to enjoy the trip with the people she loves. With her usual bold opinions and comic timing, she speaks up for dogs everywhere.
This funny Martha Speaks picture book is a lively story about pets, family, and the trouble that starts when a talking dog refuses to be left out.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
Martha knows dogs are already wonderful. Otis Weaselgraft disagrees. His Perfect Pup Institute promises to turn barking, drooling, squirrel-chasing dogs into perfectly obedient pets in just three easy steps.
At first, the program sounds impressive. Soon, dogs all over town are going in and coming out strangely changed. Martha smells something suspicious, and a talking dog with a strong opinion is not easy to fool.
Perfectly Martha is a clever, comic Martha Speaks adventure about being yourself, asking questions, and resisting the idea that good behavior should mean losing your personality. Young readers who enjoy funny dog stories with a bit of mystery will find Martha in fine form.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Martha loves her walks: the smells, the scratches, the neighborhood news, and the chance to visit her dog friends. Then a new sign appears down the street: Beware of Dog.
The dog behind the sign is Bob, a loud, frightening bully who makes everyone nervous. Martha has plenty to say, but words can get a dog into trouble if she chooses the wrong ones. With help from a talkative parrot, she begins to discover that words can also change how someone feels.
Martha Walks the Dog is a funny Martha Speaks picture book about kindness, confidence, and the surprising power of praise.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
Martha is used to being the special dog in the family. Then everyone brings home Skits, a bouncy new puppy who chews, crashes, and turns Martha’s peaceful life upside down.
Skits does not understand rules, manners, or the importance of alphabet soup. Even worse, he does not start talking the way Martha does. Martha may be annoyed, but she also begins to realize that Skits has his own way of being special.
Martha and Skits is a funny, affectionate Martha Speaks picture book about welcoming a new pet, handling jealousy, and learning that a younger family member does not have to be exactly like you to matter.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Martha has walked under a ladder, broken a mirror, and started to wonder whether bad luck is following her on four paws. Helen tries to explain that accidents can simply be accidents, but Martha is not convinced.
When clumsy mishaps seem to happen around her, Martha worries that her jinx might be spreading to everyone nearby. Is she really unlucky for seven whole years, or is there another way to look at what happened?
This playful Martha Speaks early reader gives young readers a funny story about superstitions, worry, and learning to think through a problem. Martha’s big feelings and bigger imagination make the mystery of bad luck especially silly and satisfying.
6-8 Years
29 Pages
Martha eats her alphabet soup every day because the letters are what let her talk. But one day, when she opens her mouth, clear words do not come out. Instead, everything sounds like confusing blah blah blah.
Something has gone wrong, and Martha is not ready to give up being a talking dog. Her nose still works, and her curiosity is as strong as ever, so she follows the clues to the source of the trouble: a soup company that may not be keeping its promise.
Martha Blah Blah is a funny Martha Speaks story about words, communication, and speaking up when something is unfair.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
