ZAK

Zak is a dog of uncertain lineage, wire-coated and curly- tailed, with floppy ears. When he is asked, ``What kind of dog are you?'' he doesn't know. Rather than wondering whether he's descended from terriers or poodles, he considers whether his ancestors may have been judges or pirates, city slickers or farmers. In the end he concludes that he's a one-of-a-kind dog, and a pretty special one at that. With an anthropomorphized and multicultural message, the text is somewhat reminiscent of overly earnest curricula designed to build self-esteem; fortunately, it's leavened by the considerable humor in the hand-colored photographs. Zak appears noble, curious, bewildered, and blissful; he seems to smile, and in one shot, he laughs outright. He'll be a winner with dog-lovers. (Picture book. 6-10)