PIPIOLO AND THE ROOF DOGS

In a lively tale tinged with magical realism, a small Mexican town becomes the scene of a most unusual act of liberation. The dogs of San Pablo Etla are all confined to the flat roofs of the houses as watchdogs. All but young Lupe’s Pipiolo. Wondering why Pipiolo is so weary during the day, Lupe follows him one night, and is astonished to discover him sneaking off to watch old Westerns on the town’s one TV. Even more amazing, she sees her dog, inspired by a feat of John Wayne’s, engineer a dramatic escape for the roof dogs by wordlessly persuading them to jump onto a passing delivery truck, then leading them into the cornfields. Mystified, the townsfolk declare it un milagro. Edgerton depicts happy faces of dog and child shining up invitingly from the cover, while inside using sweeping lines, stylized forms and twilit street scenes to convey the proper anything-is-possible air. By the end, even readers disinclined to search this multileveled debut for hidden messages will be echoing Lupe’s fondness for her canine hero. (Picture book. 7-9)