DIGBY TAKES CHARGE

Digby, the new sheepdog, learns the secret to getting what he wants, and teaches readers an important lesson in manners at the same time. When the grumpy farmer tells Digby to prove himself by putting the sheep in their pen, Digby thinks it will be a piece of cake, after all, there are only six of them. But he has met his match in these six sheep. They do not like being ordered about and refuse to be intimidated by growls, construction trucks, a tank or a helicopter. Out of brilliant ideas, Digby droops in defeat. Feeling sorry for him, the other farm animals let him in on the secret: Digby politely says, “please,” and the sheep happily obey. The acrylic-and-collage illustrations are adorable—cute, fluffy sheep with smiles that never waver, and even Digby at his fiercest retains his charm. Church cleverly leaves the door open for sequels with the ducks as the next animal to cause trouble. Would that learning manners was always so amusing. (Picture book. 2-7)