The Perfect Dog

March 15, 2016
A white child in a dress and a bow lectures readers about how to pick the perfect dog. Portraits of different breeds of adorable dogs are the first (and last) things readers encounter in this ode to canines. The story begins as the young narrator tells readers that the family is about to get a dog, and of course, it should be perfect. Thus begins a pattern--"The perfect dog should be big... / bigger... // biggest! / Maybe not this big"--that continues throughout the book, substituting different adjectives and dog breeds to illustrate them: in this case, a chow chow, a German shepherd, a Saint Bernard, and a Great Dane, respectively. Use of various typefaces and fonts will help readers grasp the meanings of the adjectives and adds dramatic flair. Along with the varying dog breeds, the changes in adjectives are accompanied by changes in the narrator's outfits. Playful chaos ensues in many spreads, adding humor to the general charm of the pooches. A page turn between the three escalating adjectives and the follow-up "maybe not" sentence would have added playful anticipation, but the pacing still generally works. By limiting backgrounds to two colors, O'Malley keeps the focus on the characters--and boy, are they full of character. The dogs are the true stars of this book, each with an immediately evident personality, though they're all lovable. Sweetly, the perfect dog turns out to be the one who chooses the narrator. While this book doesn't do anything new, it's a shoo-in for lovers of dogs and humor: funny and charming. (Picture book. 3-6)

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April 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-A little girl is finally allowed to get a pet, and she knows just what qualities to look for: "The perfect dog should be big... bigger...biggest! Maybe not this big." Digital illustrations in bright colors depict three different large-and one very large-breeds. So begins a playful romp through the traits a perfect dog should possess. Frequent repetition of superlatives is featured throughout, illustrated by comparisons of the pups' hair, running speed, and general fanciness. Humorous, cartoonlike illustrations provide dog enthusiasts plenty of breeds to inspect, and demonstrate what happens when a dog is "too much": the too snuggly hound squashes the little girl into a chair as he tries to lie on top of her. Ultimately, the protagonist discovers that there is no perfect pooch recipe, but the end result still sees girl and pet happily united. While no new ground is tread here, animal lovers will certainly enjoy examining a variety of canine companions (the endpapers alone feature dozens of doggie faces), and the simple text plus bold illustrations make this an option for reading aloud. VERDICT A superlative choice where animal books are popular or needed.-Kelsey Johnson-Kaiser, La Crosse Public Library, WI

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