LOST AND FOUND

LaMarche offers three short stories about children and their dogs in this visually appealing, large-format tribute to the powerful connection between kids and canines. The soft-focus illustrations, drawn with colored pencils and watercolor washes, employ a muted palette that infuses the book with a dreamy feeling. The dogs are the stars here: an Irish setter who follows a little girl running away from home, a mixed-breed terrier who is lost on a hike and then found and a Malamute who is taken in by a lonely boy who finds a new home with the dog’s original owner. The emotionally satisfying illustrations are stronger than the text, which is often too wordy and sometimes just a little dull; their gentle charm carries the total effort. Each of the three main characters and the three dogs has a distinct personality, and children who love dogs (especially those who long for a canine companion) will find this a touching triad. (Picture book. 4-7)