Poor Louie

February 20, 2017
This story of a displaced “sibling” centers on a tiny dog named Louie, the indulged pet of a young urban couple. He sits at the dinner table with them, and they buy him cute sweaters: “Yep. Life was pretty perfect with just the three of us.” Then the couple’s friends start having babies, and soon it’s supper on the floor for Louie, and name-choosing sessions (“Pablo, Packard, Patrick, Paul...”) instead of movies in bed. Mom’s stomach grows ever larger, pushing Louie to the edge of the bed; one shocking day, it even kicks him. When the couple comes home with a stroller, Louie decides that it’s time to leave. Stories like these can dip from comedy into moments of deeper emotion, but Fucile (Mitchell Goes Bowling) keeps things fizzy all the way through, and his retro ’60s-style artwork is just right for its upbeat pace. Some of the preggers jokes are pitched at adults (like the pickles and soda crackers on the table), but readers of any age can appreciate its frank yet funny treatment of the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy. Ages 3–7. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties.

Starred review from May 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 1-Louie is a cute and cuddly Chihuahua in crisis. He speaks directly to readers and tries to solicit their sympathy. The pup recounts his idyllic life as the apple of his human parents' eye. Walks in the park, eating ice cream, and shopping excursions are all part of their normal family routine, along with dinner, movies, and plenty of snuggle time. Occasionally Louie is subjected to the boisterous attention of the babies of his mom's friends, but these are minor annoyances in his otherwise perfect life. Then, EVERYTHING changes. "Over time, Mom's belly [grows]...and [grows]...and [grows]." There is lots of new stuff-two beds, two hiking pouches, and a double stroller. It is just too much. Louie is convinced that his life is over and he will have to leave. That is, until his parents return and introduce him to his baby brother and he realizes that he hasn't been displaced after all. There is plenty of love to go around. Fucile provides a creative and comic look at the arrival of a new sibling. His expressive cartoon artwork is funny and endearing and the perfect complement to the spare text. VERDICT A great read-aloud for any apprehensive older sibling and a fun storytime selection. Children will enjoy chiming in with the "Poor Louie" refrain.-Luann Toth, School Library Journal

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2017
A pampered Chihuahua gradually realizes its owners are preparing for an impending arrival in the family.Little Louie enjoys a pleasant, predictable life with Mom and Dad, who are white, as they meet the pup's every need. Louie eats at the table with them, sleeps in their bed, and enjoys being at the center of their attention. Things begin to change with the visits of friends with babies, and then Mom begins to grow visibly larger in the belly region. New purchases are made, with matching sets of each item, such as little beds, sweaters, and hats. When Louie spies a double stroller, the conclusion seems inevitable: twins must be on the way. After an unsuccessful attempt at running away, Louie is pleased to meet just one new "baby brother." In the final scene, Louie and the baby are shown together in the stroller wearing matching hats and sweaters. Fluid, line-and-color illustrations in pencil and watercolor use a sophisticated palette of gray or white backgrounds with minimal color accents. An extra-large trim size allows for a pleasing variety of illustration perspectives, including two huge, double-page spreads with laugh-out-loud views of Louie being kicked by the then-in utero baby and imagining the arrival of twins. Fucile's background as a feature film animator is evident in the comedic pacing and polished, understated composition of scenic constructions. Droll humor, an unusual design, and an appealing main character add up to a funny addition to the canon of canines adjusting to new babies. (Picture book. 4-7)

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