DON'T EAT BEES

A dog’s guide to what to eat.

Oblivious to the amusement—or, considerably more often, outrage—of the beige-skinned family in the background, an overstimulated pooch proudly tallies the “dog things” they know. These begin with “how cats are awfully self-important for animals who poop in a box” but go on quickly to proven or potential yummies, from socks and homework to cat food (“Who’s a dumb dog now, Mittens?”), furniture, unguarded sandwiches, a whole turkey snatched off the table, and Grandpa’s teeth. There are some no-nos, though, including lemons, lit candles, and most especially bees: “No sir! Never…ever…ever…//…again.” Boldt brings suitable ballyhoo to his depictions of wild domestic carnage, and though he dials down the perpetrator’s reaction to the bee experiment from realistic anguish to sheepish embarrassment, the scene with the dentures is hilarious, and the dog’s expression after munching on a lemon will dry up plenty of viewers’ mouths in sympathy. “I am a smart dog,” the flop-eared foodie repeatedly proclaims. Readers seeing the pooch eagerly eyeing the potted cactus in the final picture may side with Mittens. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A chewy treat for dog lovers.