The Starlight Barking facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Dodie Smith |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | William Heinemann Ltd. |
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Publication date
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1967 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 144 |
| OCLC | 65203616 |
| Preceded by | The Hundred and One Dalmatians |
The Starlight Barking is a children's book written by Dodie Smith in 1967. It's a follow-up story to her famous 1956 book, The Hundred and One Dalmatians.
You might know The Hundred and One Dalmatians from the Disney movies. There's the animated film One Hundred and One Dalmatians and the live-action movie 101 Dalmatians. Both of these movies even have their own sequels. However, these movie sequels are not based on The Starlight Barking. This book tells a completely new adventure for the dogs.
Contents
The Story of The Starlight Barking
The Dearly family and many of their Dalmatians still live in Cruella de Vil's old house in Suffolk, England. Other Dalmatians and two White Persian cats also live there. Some dogs have gone to new homes. For example, Cadpig, one of the puppies, now lives with the Prime Minister.
A Mysterious Morning
One morning, something very strange happens. All living things, except dogs, are fast asleep. Humans, cats, and other animals cannot be woken up. The dogs feel fine; they are not hungry or thirsty. Even stranger, doors and machines work just by the dogs thinking about it. Dogs can also talk to each other using their minds, even if they are far away.
Cadpig, who now lives at 10 Downing Street, becomes the acting Prime Minister. She asks her parents, Pongo and Missis, to come to London. Hundreds of dogs are gathering there, waiting for her to tell them what to do.
Dogs Take Flight
The dogs soon discover a new power: they can "swoosh"! This means they can float and move super fast above the ground. Pongo and Missis choose fifty Dalmatians, including their grown-up sons Patch, Lucky, and Roly Poly. They "swoosh" all the way to London. Police Dogs meet them and guide them to 10 Downing Street.
Cadpig and her "Cabinet" (the dogs of the human Cabinet members) meet with Pongo and Missis. They need to decide what to do next. While they talk, Roly Poly becomes friends with George, the Foreign Secretary's Boxer. The two friends decide to go on an adventure together.
Cruella and a Strange Message
Two Fox Terriers hear the General, an Old English Sheepdog, barking. He says he is coming to London with his owner's son, Tommy, a farm tabby named Mrs. Willow, and the female White Persian Cat. These three are also awake because they were made "honorary dogs" after the first book's events.
When they arrive in London, the White Persian Cat thinks Cruella de Vil might be behind the mysterious sleep. She leads a group of dogs to Cruella's house. They plan to stop her. But they find Cruella and her husband are also fast asleep. Cruella is now obsessed with shiny plastics, not fur coats. The animals decide to leave her alone.
Back at Downing Street, the television turns on. A strange Voice tells all dogs to be outside in open, starlit places by midnight. The Dalmatians use their "Twilight Barking" and thought waves to spread the message to all dogs.
The Lord of the Dog Star
In Trafalgar Square, Tommy, the cats, the Dalmatians, and the General meet thousands of other dogs. They wait for midnight. At midnight, after a strange, happy feeling and then a moment of fear, Sirius, the Lord of the Dog Star, appears. He stands on Nelson's Column.
Sirius tells the dogs he is lonely. He offers them a chance to avoid future problems on Earth. But they must choose to go with him. He promises that if they leave, the world will not remember dogs ever existed. He also says dogs will be truly happy in the stars.
A Difficult Choice
Pongo is chosen to make the final decision for all dogs. He talks with the Cabinet dogs, Missis, and the General. Three stray dogs come forward. They tell Pongo that "lost" dogs still hope to find loving human families on Earth. They do not want to leave.
This helps Pongo and the others decide. They choose to stay with their human masters instead of going with Sirius. Sirius understands their loyalty but is sad to return to space alone. The dogs promise to look for him when the Dog Star shines. Sirius then gives them the power to "swoosh" home before morning. Everything will return to normal when the sun rises.
Return to Normal
Roly Poly returns from his adventure in Paris with George. He tells them Sirius appeared there too. Missis realizes Sirius must have appeared everywhere at once, because a star is not limited by Earth's time. All dogs with owners "swoosh" home. The "lost" dogs go to Battersea Dogs Home. There, they will be cared for and can find new owners.
Pongo talks to Sirius one last time before dawn. He says that maybe someday dogs will be ready to leave Earth. But for now, they are happy with their loving humans. For Pongo, this is "bliss" enough.
Main Characters
- Sirius - He is the powerful "Lord of the Dog Star." He can talk through thoughts and change into any dog breed. Sirius has loved dogs for thousands of years. He worries about Earth's future and uses his magic to make everyone sleep. This gives dogs the chance to join him in space.
- Pongo - He is the father of the fifteen puppies from the first book. Pongo is famous for rescuing the puppies from Cruella de Vil. He is the main leader of the Dalmatians. People say he has the "Keenest Brains in Dogdom."
- Missis Pongo - Most dogs call her "Missis." She is more thoughtful and understanding than Pongo. She is also very famous and respected. Missis understands the strange "magic" happening better than her husband.
- The General - He was called "The Colonel" in the first book but got a promotion. He is an Old English Sheepdog who lives near Pongo and Missis. He can talk to his owner's son, Tommy Tompkins, using a mix of dog and human sounds.
- Cadpig - She is Pongo and Missis's smallest puppy. As an adult, she went with Mr. Dearly to meet the Prime Minister. She decided to stay at 10 Downing Street. She became famous for sitting next to her new master during TV speeches. During the crisis, she becomes the Prime Minister. She handles things well with her parents' help and her naturally bossy personality.
- Cadpig's Cabinet - These are the dogs of the human Cabinet members. They take over their masters' jobs during the crisis:
- George, the Foreign Minister - A large, friendly Boxer. He and Roly Poly become good friends. They even visit Paris together.
- Babs, Minister of Transport - A pretty brown Poodle. She is very strict about traffic and crowds. She is always making new rules. Lucky and Gay help her as her secretaries.
- The Chancellor of the Exchequer - This Black Labrador is never named. He is not good at math. He hopes Pongo can teach him how to add correctly.
- Tommy Tompkins - He is the only human not affected by the mysterious sleep. This is because he was made an "honorary dog" after helping them escape Cruella when he was two. He is a farmer's son. Tommy enjoys picture books about science fiction. He and the General have their own special way of talking.
- Perdita and Prince - They are a married couple of liver-spotted Dalmatians. They are the parents of eight of the puppies stolen in the first book. They stay in charge of the Dearlys' home while Pongo and Missis go to London.
- Roly Poly - He is a large and clumsy Dalmatian. He is one of Pongo and Missis's adult sons. He teaches George how to swim. They become close friends and visit Paris during the day of magic.
- Patch - He is Pongo and Missis's son. He was the biggest puppy and very close to Cadpig. He doesn't want to marry because he has a patched ear and eye. He is happy to see Cadpig again in London and becomes her temporary private secretary.
- Lucky and Gay - Lucky is Pongo and Perdita's smartest adult son. Gay is his equally clever wife. They become temporary private secretaries to Babs the Poodle. They are always ready for action.
- Major/Mrs. Willow - She was "Lieutenant Willow" in the first book. She is a farm tabby and the General's close friend. She was made an "honorary dog" after helping in the first book. This means she is also immune to the "mysterious sleep." She does not like Sirius.
- The White Persian Cat - Cruella de Vil used to own her and treated her badly. She ran away to live with the Dalmatians and became an "honorary dog." So, she is not affected by the mysterious sleep. She becomes friends with The Staffordshire and also dislikes Sirius.
- The Jack Russell - A brave Parson Russell Terrier. The General makes him a Lieutenant. He is bold but very loyal to the General.
- The Staffordshire - A strong and energetic Staffordshire Bull Terrier. He helped the Dalmatians in the first book. He meets them again in London. He usually dislikes cats. But he becomes a respected friend of The White Persian Cat when he offers to help her.
- The Great Dane at Hampstead - He is owned by a Professor who studies how crowds behave. He first thinks Sirius is causing panic. But he soon realizes this is not true.
- Sam - A White Chihuahua. He rides on the Great Dane's back. He is owned by the same Professor. He only talks to the Dane.
- Sergeant - One of several Police Dogs who help keep order. He guards the Prime Minister's bedroom and watches him while he sleeps.
- The Three Strays - These three dogs represent all the lost, stray, and homeless dogs in England. Their strong hope of finding loving owners convinces Pongo and the other dogs to stay on Earth.
- Humans - No humans speak in the book. They are mostly sleeping while the dogs visit them.
- The Prime Minister - Cadpig's beloved owner. She admired him on TV. He was so touched by her affection that he adopted her.
- Mr. and Mrs. Dearly - The owners of the Dalmatians in Suffolk. Mr. Dearly wakes up at the end of the book.
- Nanny Cook and Nanny Butler - The chef and valet of the Dearly household from the first book.
- Cruella de Vil - The villain from the first book. She and her husband return to London and start a company making plastic items. Her hair is now half-black and half-white because of stress from the first book's events. She still likes heat and pepper but no longer wants fur coats.
- Mr. de Vil - Cruella's husband from the first book. He is a small, worried man. He snores very loudly.
- The White Cat's Husband - Another white Persian cat. He is a loved family member. But he was not made an "honorary dog," so he does not wake up with his wife. He stretches out and takes over the bed while she is gone, which annoys her.
