Snow Dog, Sand Dog

December 23, 2013
Can an imaginary dog be enough when a real one isn't an option? As in Lou Berger and David Catrow's recent Dream Dog, Singleton and Golden believe the answer is yes. In her first picture book, Singleton (the Seer series) introduces a girl named Ally who wants a dog, but "dogs made her achoo!" Instead, Ally creates dogs out of snow, flowers, sand, and leaves as the seasons change; each one magically (or imaginatively) comes to life and follows her home. Debut illustrator Golden has fun with each dog's transformation in her mixed-media artworkâwhen Snow Dog becomes "real," he's as big and fluffy as one might expect, and Sand Dog's generous curves echo the mounds of sand used to create her. Ally's friends are dismissive of her invented pets, but she's never anything less than content, and she isn't even upset when they vanish with the changing seasons. For kids with both canine and outdoor allergies, Singleton offers a craft-based pet idea at book's end. Ages 4â7. Author's agent: Jill Corcoran, Jill Corcoran Literary Agency. Illustrator's agent: Shannon Associates.

March 1, 2014

K-Gr 2-Ally's allergies prevent her from having the real dog she desires, so she uses her imagination to create substitutes through the seasons of the year. In winter, when other children make snowmen, she makes a snow dog. In spring, when other children pick flowers, she makes a flower dog. In summer, she makes a sand dog, and in fall, a leaf dog. Each time, the others laugh at her, but her creations always follow her home. They play together through the season until her pet fades, and she draws pictures of her new unique canine friends until the cycle starts again. The cartoon illustrations have childlike lines that show the world as Ally would imagine and draw it, and the book concludes with instructions for making "A Dog Without Snow" from cardboard. While the book's overarching tone shows a triumph of spirit over circumstance, a note of loneliness and isolation permeates the story throughout.-Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2014
An imaginative little girl named Ally adores dogs but can't have one of her own due to her allergies. After a snowstorm, Ally makes a dog sculpture out of snow. Snow Dog comes to life and follows Ally home, staying till the spring thaw. Then Ally creates a new dog out of flowers and leaves from her backyard, and Flower Dog stays till summer. On a beach vacation, Ally invents Sand Dog, and in the autumn, Leaf Dog. Each dog starts as a static sculpture and then immediately morphs into a realistic dog with hints of its origin, such as leaf-shaped ears and a tail shaped like a crooked twig. The boundaries between imagination and reality are creatively blurred in the pictures, as the realistic dogs each play with Ally, following her faithfully and engaging in seasonal activities. Charming illustrations in a loose, playful style bring the dogs to life, whether they are real or not. An open-ended conclusion shows Ally drawing all her dogs at play and Snow Dog returning with the first snow of the winter, even as the text indicates the other dogs also return. A final, unnecessary page gives directions for making a dog sculpture out of common household items. Ally is a clever and creative character that kids with similar afflictions will relate to. (Picture book. 3-7)

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March 1, 2014
Preschool-G Ally longs for a dog, but unfortunately they make her sneeze. Still, she draws pictures of dogs, and one winter day while the neighborhood kids are building snowmen, Ally makes a dog of snow. Snow Dog follows her home, where they share good times until the weather warms and he melts. In the spring, she creates Flower Dog, a good companion until the blossoms wither. That summer, at the beach, Ally makes Sand Dog, and in the autumn, Leaf Dog. When winter comes, she welcomes Snow Dog once again. Upbeat and imaginative, the story moves along steadily to its satisfying conclusion. Dog lovers will fall for each of the affable, energetic dogs portrayed in the brightly colorful mixed-media artwork. The illustrations capture the tone of the text and personalities of the characters. Portraying a self-reliant girl who finds her way to happiness through play, this picture book will find a receptive audience among imaginative children.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)