DUKE THE DAIRY DELIGHT DOG

Duke is a delight in this book of funny oversized paintings and deadpan storytelling. Duke, a traveling dog, sees the Dairy Delight, and it's love at first sight. However, Darla, the Dairy Delight owner, views Duke as dirty and mangy: Every time she sees him, she is swept into a cleaning frenzy. Finally, Duke sneaks into the Dairy Delight just as Darla is cleaning obsessively with her peppermint soap and new machine; sucked into a cleaning whirlwind, Duke emerges freshly scrubbed, buffed, and waxed so expertly that his formerly dirty fur is swirled into creamy peaks that make him look just like a ``Chocolate Vanilla Swirl, wagging its tail.'' Talk about happily ever after. Ernst's (Red Riding Hood, 1995, etc.) signature illustrations fill each page with a variety of perspectives; this endearing tale gets more delicious with each encounter. (Picture book. 4-8)