San Francisco Chronicle
Artist goes to the dogs for inspiration

More to life than perfect hair and nails

The Leaf Chronicle
It's a dog's life on the bookshelf this week

The Children's Book Council
Hot off the Press - Week of June 6, 2004

Planet Out
Online interviews with E.B. McHenry & Poodlena

Poodlena All Over the Place

Reviewer and Educator Debbie Shoulders focuses on children's literature

I am definitely a "dog person" and believe Hershey, our standard poodle, is a member of the family. Although, I recently learned that we are really members of Hershey's pack.

Whichever way you look at it, there are a many dog books out there about our four legged friends. So if you are a dog person like I am, read on.

"Poodlena"(Bloomsbury Children's Books, $16.95) written and illustrated by E.B. McHenry is the rhyming story of a pink, fluffy poodle -- Poodlena Pompadour. Poodlena begins each day, "teasing her fabulous fluff, shaving legs, painting toenails and other such stuff. She'd fuss and she'd tweeze, she'd paint and she'd fluff, she'd powder and perfume, and pink herself up."
Afternoons would find Poodlena in the park with all the other dogs. While they fetch balls and play, she would watch from the sidelines. This continued until the day after a storm when Poodlena arrived at the park, which was "afloat" with mud. A chow races toward her and "she flew up in the air, spinning round and around, getting covered in mud as she slid to the ground."
What will the muddy poodle decide to do -- play with the chow or returned to be pampered?

Berkeley: Artist goes to the dogs for inspiration

Janet Somers, Special to The Chronicle
Friday, May 28, 2004

Sometimes poodles act undeniably like dogs.
At a recent sidewalk poodle parade in downtown Berkeley to celebrate the publication of "Poodlena," (Bloomsbury, $16.95), a new children's book by E.B. McHenry, they heeded the call of the wild more than the call of decorum.

On Kittredge Street, where a small crowd had gathered before the parade, Lincoln, a black male poodle owned by Connie Cronin of Oakland, licked another poodle's privates and tried to steal his treats.John Winer, a poodle owner and Oakland attorney specializing in sexual harassment cases, was unable to help the victim, Bailey Bojangles, a white male owned by Lorena Godwin of San Francisco. Although Bailey complained by barking and raising himself up onto his hind legs, Winer explained that he can't solicit clients. "They have to come to me," he said.Meanwhile, Winer's dog, Senator Lulu, a large "Labradoodle" -- a Labrador and poodle mix -- had a canine encounter of her own. "She tried socializing," said Winer's wife, Shannon, also a lawyer. "She tried to visit that white poodle, but he barked at her."McHenry, 41, an Oakland author and artist, was too busy with poodle registration to notice all the hanky-panky. But she doubtless would have approved of the poodle informality.The heroine of her first book, which she wrote and illustrated, is Poodlena Pompadour. The pink poodle lives in a high rise and is too well- coifed and well-groomed to play with the other dogs at the dog park. At the end of the book, Poodlena finds herself rolling in mud after a rainstorm and playing tag with another dog; she enjoys herself so much that, from then on, she "fluffs a bit less" and plays a bit more.Poodlena, with her primping and her enormous pompadour hairstyle, stands in vivid contrast to McHenry -- a petite, animated woman who favors short haircuts and tailored clothes and who came out as a lesbian while a student at the Philadelphia College of Art. She admits that Poodlena's almost surrealistically big hair -- described in the book as "mostly pink air" -- is over the top."It's my expression of the over-the-topness of this culture," she said. "Have you ever seen women with a big bouffant and all that makeup and everything? My sisters, they were into their poufin' it up, and fluffin' it up, and my mother as well. I wasn't. I'm amused by it, and I'm also a little troubled by it because I'm a woman, and we get this message that all women wear pink, and I don't look so good in pink! I'm a very androgynous woman. There are so many kinds of women."And the other issue is boys that like pink. Anybody that wants to fluff it up, you go ahead, you know? And I do mean anybody! I would like to see all the flowers in the garden."
McHenry said she hopes to subtly raise questions of gender with "Poodlena, " which is aimed at children ages 3 to 8 but speaks to adults as well."I'm really fascinated with Marcel," she said, referring to a balding, rotund, silent character in her book who grooms the dog. "He allows for Poodlena to be Poodlena, and yet he's expressing his own feminine side vicariously through this dog."McHenry grew up in Philadelphia as the middle child of five siblings. Her twin sister died at 21, a traumatic event that catapulted McHenry more deeply into the artwork that had been an obsession since high school."I came out of a society that was a bit repressive, to say the least," she said. "A very Catholic family, and an all-Catholic-school education. And it probably helped create me, because I had something to work against. I graduated with the most demerits in my high school class, and those were mostly uniform (dress code) violations. I guess it's real convenient to have uniforms for many reasons, but there are certain individuals, creative individuals, who cannot be put in uniforms."Her own transformation and relocation to the Bay Area she describes this way: "In South Philadelphia, people cement as much as they can because trees are dirty, and cement you can clean."There's this one little dog park, and I met this man there who was a homeopath. He was just this nice older man with a beard, and I trusted him. I told him some things about myself that were making me sad. Within a month, I moved to San Francisco," she said.
"It struck me after the fact that the ('Poodlena') story sort of reflected my own transformation."Like her canine heroine, McHenry wound up more in touch with nature and the other creatures of the earth, which she attributes both to the plants she learned about by following homeopathy and to the natural beauty of the Bay Area.Primarily a visual artist, McHenry has worked as a freelance illustrator for magazines and newspapers for years, which she said gave her insight into narrative form. She said she was "doodling poodles" one day when the story of Poodlena came to her. Getting the book published, however, was another matter."Everyone told me, 'You're never gonna get it published.' They told me maybe I should self-publish -- I'm not a real writer, maybe I should do an e- book."When she finally made contact with an agent, the agent insisted she get a certain number of signatures from people who liked her book."She told me that before she could accept me, I would have to, like, get the broomstick from the Wicked Witch of the West."I spent months taking my little manuscript around to people at bookstores and librarians. It was horrible! I hated it!"The stories have kept coming, and she recently signed a contract for another book, about two Corgis.McHenry used to have her own dog, Max, a cockapoo (cocker spaniel and poodle mix) who she says picked her out, rather than the other way around."It was one of those eye-locks at Jack's Puppy Farm in Pipersville, Pa.," she said. "That's where I got him. He could throw the ball to me up in the air. He'd pick it up and just throw it to me, and then he would just run in some direction. ...Max was one of those dogs that you get once in a lifetime, if you're lucky."For the poodle parade, McHenry made the four wagon-floats and 25 poodle hats of various sizes. Most of the 30 or so dogs sported their lacy little pink hats as they made their way down Shattuck Avenue, some on leashes, some carried, others on the floats accompanied by kids. Mimmell, a 3-pound "teacup poodle," wore his tiny pink crown and got a ride from his owner, Selma Rockett of Berkeley, in her wheelchair.

"It comes from my heart," McHenry said. "I love, love dogs. And the idea of getting all of these beautifully dressed-up, happy-to-be-there poodles together to celebrate my book and their poodleness, it's just poetic to me."

An interview with Poodlena creator E.B. McHenry
by Jenny Stewart

Author E.B. McHenry's name may not ring a bell, but it's about to. The release of her new children's book "Poodlena" is getting buzz from coast to coast -- even Ellen DeGeneres is a fan of the pink poodle with the huge coif and painted toenails. The author sat down with us to discuss the fab book, which is in stores now.

The concept of Poodlena is long overdue. How did you get the idea for the book?
Poodlena began as a bunch of doodles of poodles that grew progressively more outrageous. Her character, quite naturally, drove the story. I followed along.

You refer to Poodlena as "she," but is she in fact female?
I suppose "she" could be understood as male or female. Poodlena might very well be a male expressing his/her feminine spirit. As we've seen in gay culture for the Goddess knows how many years, "she" is used to describe just that.

Did you base Poodlena on anyone in particular?
Not consciously, but I can't seem to keep the people in my life out of my work. She seems to be a blend and extreme exaggeration of my sisters Julie, Vickie and Kate -- plus a little something of my late great dog Max.

Have you read the story to children, and if so, how are they reacting?
Yes, both boys and girls seem to really like Poodlena. One recent review: "It's perfect, it's great!" -- Kayle Williams, Havertown, Penn.

The illustrations are so good, and Poodlena herself is colorful and bigger than life. I think she would look great in animation. Do you think Poodlena could make it to the big screen?
Thanks. Poodlena would be beautiful animated. It's a character and story appropriate for many audiences.

If she were ever made into animation, which actor or actress do you envision as the perfect voice for Poodlena?
Isabella Rossellini

Speaking of illustrations, is it true that yours were published in Highlights magazine when you were only 5 years old? What were they?
In the Kids' Art Gallery section. My mom sent in my pictures. It was of two little angels with halos flying in the clouds.

Do you keep up with Goofus and Gallant?
Sadly, no.

We all know Poodlena's daily fluffing routine, but what about you? What is E. B. McHenry's daily beauty regimen?
Oh, I'm a bath queen. I can stay in a hot tub for hours. I like a natural oatmeal facial and use special soap for sensitive skin.

Will there be a line of Poodlena beauty products, and will they be for dogs or people?
There has been some talk of some Poodlena organic bath products. My girlfriend, Jenny, is an herbalist who creates wonderful organic lotions and potions. We've been working on some ideas for a kids' product line. But I do like the idea of some Poodlena dog park shampoo, too!

Will we be seeing further adventures of Poodlena?
I suppose that's a possibility.

Does Poodlena perchance live in the same high-rise as Eloise?
Poodlena and Eloise? Same neighborhood, different building

An interview with Poodlena
by Jenny Stewart

Meet Poodlena Pompadour. A pink poodle with a huge coif, painted toenails and a very pink vibe, she's the perfect protagonist for a kids' book by author E.B. McHenry. Poodlena took time out from her busy, busy schedule to talk with us about the Fab Five, Sophia Loren and, of course, what it's like to be the most fabulous pooch in the world.

What is your favorite dog food?
I don't eat commercial dog food. I have a special menu of treats cooked up especially for me daily. One of my favorite dishes is Marcel's Magic Meatballs. They're bite-sized meatballs, baked in a secret French sauce and served with a light dusting of Brewer's yeast -- delish! My favorite desert is crème brulee.

Do you have a favorite drink?
I like pink drinks.

Does your favorite drink reflect your personality?
Not at all

If they made a movie about you, who would you want to play you?
There's so many talented poodles out there, I really couldn't say.

What's your current favorite CD, book, writer, movie?
CD: I've been going retro lately, listening to Stevie Nicks and Elton John
Book: "Tipping the Velvet"
Writer: Sarah Waters
Movie: "Sing-a-long Sound of Music"

If the Fab Five were to make you over, where would you need the most help -- decorating, fashion, culture/social skills, food/wine or grooming?
Definitely the social skills; I'm really a bit shy.

Tell us something nobody knows about you.
I love France!

What was the most important event in your life in the last year?
That would have to be my coming-out party! My friends and family were all there and my hair looked FABULOUS!

Who inspires you the most?
Sophia Loren. She's got it going on inside and out!

Who was your first celebrity crush?
It must have been Snowy from the Tintin cartoons.

Fill in the blank: The last movie I laughed out loud at was _____
"Sing-a-long Sound of Music"

What is your favorite/least favorite feature of your body?
Favorite: my hair!
Least Favorite: my breath

What pushes your buttons/makes you angry?
Bullies at the dog park!

Squelch or confirm (or start) a rumor about yourself.
I use an organic pink rinse, not a synthetic commercial dye!