Simple and pretty cute.
Meet this pungent pooch!
A youngster named Pie introduces readers to the family pet, Peggy, a rescue dog who is small with curly gray fur. Pie informs us that while Peggy may seem nice, she’s actually quite naughty. Whenever Pie, Mom, and Dad take Peggy out for a walk, Peggy grabs sticks that are so large that they knock the legs out from under the whole family. But the naughtiest thing Peggy does is roll around in foul-smelling things, such as seaweed, washed-up trash, and…poop! After Peggy returns home and gets her poopy smell all over the rug and Pie’s clean pajamas, it’s time to wash up. Peggy dislikes showers, so when she’s all done, she makes sure to shake off, splashing water all over the place. In spite of it all, her family loves her. Light on plot, this book is ideal for dog lovers, since it’s basically an ode to one particularly mischievous canine. Told from Pie’s perspective, the conversational text engages readers with some “What do you think?” questions (“But do you think we love her? Do we?”). It also provides little ones opportunities to shout out “PEGGGGGY!” along with the family. Young Pie shows some responsibility by bathing Peggy. The quaint watercolor and crayon illustrations play with perspectives, much like a modern take on Ludwig Bemelmans’ style. The three-person family is pale-skinned and red-haired.
Simple and pretty cute. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Jan. 14, 2025
ISBN: 9781536235722
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
A funny tale about stress and an ever upping ante, with a comforting end.
Something is preventing Owl from falling asleep.
Owl leans back against his white pillow and headboard. “Squeek!” says something underneath the bed. Owl’s never heard that sound before, so he fastens his pink bathrobe and answers the front door. Nobody. It must be the wind; back to bed. Bidding himself goodnight, he climbs into bed—and hears the noise again. Time after time, he pops out of bed seeking the squeaker. Is it in the cupboard? He empties the shelves. Under the floor? He pulls up his floorboards. As Owl’s actions ratchet up—he destroys the roof and smashes the walls, all in search of the squeak—so does his anxiety. Not until he hunkers down in bed under the night sky (his bed is now outdoors, because the house’s roof and walls are gone), frantically clutching his pillow, does he see what readers have seen all along: a small, gray mouse. In simple illustrations with black outlines, textured coloring, and foreshortened perspective, Pizzoli plays mischievously with mouse placement. Sometimes the mouse is behind Owl or just out of his sightline; other times, the mouse is on a solid, orange-colored page across the spread from Owl, which removes him from Owl’s scene in a rather postmodern manner. Is the mouse toying with Owl? Who knows?
A funny tale about stress and an ever upping ante, with a comforting end. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 19, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4847-1275-7
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2016
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