PUPPY LOVE
by Dick King-Smith & illustrated by Anita Jeram
The pair that collaborated on I Love Guinea Pigs (1995) teams up again on a universally appealing subject, rendered quite personal by King-Smith. "I especially love puppies," he states, and it shows: All kinds of puppies in all manner of poses and settings accompany his descriptions of his experiences with them: Humphrey, a Great Dane; a slew of dachshunds lolling in the house of a dog breeder; a German shepherd named Fly. In the explanations of behavior and care, King-Smith provides homey details that Jeram puts to good use, creating a cozy backyard scene that expresses a puppy's lack of balance beautifully, or many small scenes on a spread, e.g., a bulletin board with snapshots of puppies. Jeram excels in showing her subjects from a puppy's-eye view, and in capturing their awkwardly lovable postures. This tender guide is educational, humorous, and irresistible—like puppies. (Picture book. 4-8)