Dog Loves Books

June 14, 2010
It’s a little discouraging when Dog’s new bookstore doesn’t attract any customers, but Dog isn’t fazed; he pulls books off the shelves and loses himself in reading. “When he read, he forgot that he was alone.” Reading prepares him for bookselling, too; when a girl shows up looking for books, “Dog knew exactly which ones to recommend.” Yates’ (A Small Surprise) pale, candy-colored watercolors are the real attraction of this otherwise wispy story. Delicate pinks and purples encircle the insouciant Dog as he reads book after book, his inquisitive ears on the alert, surrounded by the creatures he reads about: dinosaurs, kangaroos, benevolent aliens in flying saucers. Yates conveys Dog’s immersion in fantasy by picturing him hovering in front of a bookshelf in a small pink spaceship of his own when the girl, his first real customer, arrives. Dog’s enthusiasm for reading and books can feel a bit heavy-handed (“He loved the smell of them, and he loved the feel of them. He loved everything about them...”), but he’s a charmer. Ages 4–8.

Starred review from June 1, 2010

Yates uses words and illustration sparingly to set the pace for this jaunty tale book lovers will lap right up. Yes, "Dog loves books," so much so that he decides to open a bookstore. At first his clientele are few. He does not despair; he reads more books, indulging in literarily inspired flights of fancy. When customers do arrive, Dog is more than ready to recommend books they will enjoy. The gentle lines and watercolors leave white space on the pages, drawing attention to Dog and his books. The front endpapers show dogs depicted in the story; observant readers will notice that the rear endpapers show them reading titles specific to their breeds. The cover illustration of a happy Dog marching with a stack of books and the display type are set in a shiny finish of red, white and blue on top of a linen-like background, establishing the truth of the title words from the beginning. This is the true, exact depth of purpose any avid reader, even the doggy ones, wishes—sharing the joy. (Picture book. 4-8)

(COPYRIGHT (2010) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

Starred review from August 1, 2010

PreS-Gr 1-A small white dog loves books so much that he decides to open his own bookstore. Unfortunately, no customers come, so he occupies his time by reading. He is engrossed in his imaginary adventures when his first real customer asks for a book. Of course, he knows exactly what to suggest. The simple story is accompanied by soft pastel pencil and watercolor drawings that give the book a whimsical, dreamy quality. Dog is surrounded by nonthreatening dinosaurs, space aliens, and other creatures when he is reading about them. Young children can enjoy the book by themselves by following the charming illustrations. Pair this gentle tale with a winning message with Tad Hills's How Rocket Learned to Read (Random, 2010) for a dogs-that-love-books storytime.-Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.