SHY

In this latest from frequent mother-daughter collaborators and actors Andrews and Hamilton, a pianist’s practice regimen is interrupted by his vocally experimental new dog.

An omniscient narrator explains that Shy (who’s white with brown patches) is “the smallest and quietest pup at the shelter. She seldom made a sound.” When a light-skinned man with floppy brown hair visits the shelter and says that he’s looking for a dog “who can keep me company and help me concentrate while I work,” Shy seems like a natural fit. And she is—initially. But when the man, who is a pianist, tells Shy that he must practice, she’s all kinds of disruptive: “At first, she gave a small whine. Then, a soft woof under her breath. Then…‘Ow-WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!’” The man tries to divert Shy so he can prepare for an upcoming concert, but it’s no use: She keeps yowling along as he plays. The tale's ending is fairly inevitable, but it’s heartwarming nonetheless, and it can also be taken as a gentle rebuke to artistic rigidity. Andrews and Hamilton have blended their voices into a graceful storytelling instrument, and Byrne’s pen-and-ink art has a timeless quality, channeling the urbanity of Hilary Knight’s work in the likewise New York–set Eloise books. An authors’ note reveals that Shy is based on a poodle Andrews owned years ago who also liked to make herself heard.

A sweet, smooth, and stylish call for listening to different voices.