Santiago Stays

July 29, 2013
Dominguez (Let’s Go, Hugo!) creates a portrait of a dog that defies the stereotype of a shallow, easily bribable creature. The adorable Santiago has pointy ears and eyes that gleam when his young master calls. Dominguez’s drawings, outlined in ink and pencil, appear against clean white backdrops, the better to contrast the boy’s entreaties with Santiago’s placid nonreactions. “Look,” the boy cries, waving a spotted elephant. “I’ve got your favorite toy!” Santiago, in the corner of the opposite page, stares but doesn’t move. Offers to fetch, go for a walk, and wear a favorite sweater are spurned; even magnificent treats (“Maybe a turkey leg? With a hamburger?”) don’t tempt him. When he does show interest, it’s in response to the cry of another person in the room—a very small person. And since the boy is concerned about the fuss coming from the crib, too, the two become allies. The idea that there’s a dog who cares more about a crying baby than a hamburger is a heartwarming one; Santiago isn’t just cute but, in his own small way, noble, too. Ages 2–5. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt.

August 15, 2013
Why won't Santiago come? In this simple tale of pet camaraderie, a boy tries to play with his dog, plying him with ever-escalating enticements. A toy, a ball, a walk, a treat? A very special treat? Various options are presented in minimal, conversational text, with accessible pictorial cues to let young listeners and readers figure out precisely what is being offered. Warm, colorful, digitally enhanced illustrations rendered in pencil, ink, marker and tissue paper are the focus here, as the lovable, resolute pup and his very determined boy each try to communicate in his own way. But wait! What's that cry coming from the corner? The boy's sister, of course! And as Santiago knows, she needs to know she is not alone. "Don't cry. / We're here! // Good boy, Santiago," the boy says, recognizing both very special members of his family. While not stated, the boy seems to be of Hispanic or Latino origin, adding a subtle, multicultural flavor to this appealing, straightforward selection. Dog lovers and older siblings alike will bask in the quiet humor as they try to solve this gentle canine mystery. (Picture book. 2-5)

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October 1, 2013

PreS-A boy tries every trick in the book to get his adorable, big-eared, supremely stubborn pooch to move. Toys, a game of fetch, a walk, even a treat are offered to Santiago, who turns up his nose at every one. When the frustrated child screams, "Santiago!" readers finally learn why the pup stays put. A wail issues from the crib in the corner, and the dog and his boy run to comfort baby sister. The large, mixed-media illustrations set against white backgrounds pack much nuance and personality into the canine and human characters. The narrative, though, falls flat. Readers wonder why Santiago refuses to play with the boy but are given no hints that his stubborn refusal is rooted in duty to guarding the baby. In fact, the baby's presence is unknown until the boy shouts, startling her. The sweet ending, with the boy and dog reassuring the baby that they are nearby, unfortunately does not make up for the indirect and somewhat confusing narrative.-Martha Link Yesowitch, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2013
Preschool Santiago is a French bulldog with fur so thick around his chin that it looks like he has a beard. He also is pretty stubborn. When his boy tells him to come, Santiago holds his ground; temptations in the form of treats and toys don't work either. But when the new baby cries, well, then Santiago goes into protective mode and gets off the green rug to make sure she is all right. This is simple in every wayand simply delightful. Dominguez uses wide swaths of white space as a background often for just two items: Santiago and whatever bribe the boy is offering. The pencil, marker, ink, tissue paper, and digital color pictures have an effortless feel, but there's emotion in them as well, as the boy gets more frustrated with Santiago's truculence. The satisfying ending is marked by a cute dog-hugs-boy piece of spot art on the endpapers. The book's brevity and simple word usage make this a good choice for kids learning to read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)