paper 0-7636-0597-2 Hindley (The Big Red Bus, 1995, etc.) masterfully captures the abundant energy and mischievousness of a puppy as it capers about, to the delight and exasperation of its new owner. The frisky puppy’s maneuvers serve as a backdrop to the boy’s attempts to define the qualities that make a puppy such an appealing companion. “The good thing is, the way he rolls and bounces. The bad thing is, he goes and jumps in puddles—and then . . . wants to cuddle.” Casey’s full-color ink-and-watercolor drawings bring the puppy to life as it leaps and frolics across the pages, spiritedly expressing the joie de vivre that is part and parcel of a puppy’s existence. The best thing about this book is the way it makes readers smile with every turn of the page. (Picture book. 3-6)
