is your child feeding your dog alphabet soup?

it’s not what you think…there is a good reason…Martha Speaks. It is a new, sweet animated series on PBS about a dog named Martha. The premise of the story is that Martha the dog has eaten some alphabet soup and can now talk. My little girls love it - and they can be a tough crowd to impress. I liked it too, but they could have cast a better voice for Martha. Just like Clifford, it’s just not right…but, I digress.

According to Susan Meddaugh (Martha’s creator), “Martha the dog is confident, honest, loving, talking and acting before thinking, sometimes wrong but seldom in doubt.” (sounds a lot like my husband). 

The show is meant to help build children’s vocabularies with complex words but also to teach good pet ownership behavior. They hope viewers will come away with an appreciation for the important role dogs play in our lives and to raise awareness for animal shelters and encourage more families to adopt.

The Real Martha
The “real” Martha was a rescue dog who was so out of control, they almost couldn’t keep her. But with training and patience, Martha’s true personality came through. The story premise came from Susan’s daughter who asked the all important question, “if I give Martha alphabet soup, will she talk?” …ahhh a story is born.

Martha Speaks was based on a book series which is being re-released in the fall with new editions and enhancements such as tips for families on building vocabulary. You can find fun and games with Martha at the PBS kids website. Two thumbs up for “Martha the puppy dog” which is what my girls call it.