The perennial home/away/from/home theme takes a canine twist in this blustery tale of best friends separated. Sally and her aptly named dog Scoot play together every day in their big, fenced-in backyard. The hyperactive Scoot loves chasing things. One day he chases a red balloon over the fence, landing alone in the “big wild world.” Forgetting Sally, the exuberant Scoot runs over hill and dale, pursing sheep, fleeing from seagulls, and arriving on top of the world in “his best chase ever.” But when the wind dies, a deflated Scoot suddenly feels lost and lonely, until a voice on the wind calls him back home to a euphoric reunion in Sally’s arms. Fresh rainbow-hued acrylic and mixed-media illustrations convey a strong sense of movement through the use of flowing, swirling lines. Readers almost see and feel the wind whirl and whip Scoot across the pages of this fast-paced yet reassuring story. (Picture book. 3-6)
