THE CHERRY PIE BABY

Annie is an English sheepdog who is tired of her doll, David, and wants a real baby brother. While helping her father deliver scrumptious-looking pies from his horse-drawn wagon, she trades five of them to Beau (another dog her age) for a real baby--Beau's family is so large that they're sure little Claude won't be missed. But Claude is a disappointment: when Annie tries to play house with him, he cries for Mama; he also gets her dress wet ""with something not make-believe."" Annie is relieved when Papa discovers Claude and takes him right home; predictably, it turns out that Beau has the makings of a good friend. The charmingly realized animal world in Chorao's illustrations gives a fresh look to her story and contributes to the humor; the pungent, on-target dialogue and activities--like those of Hoban's Frances--nicely reflect the concerns of real children. An attractive picture book with a text long enough to double as a young reader.