TINY THE PUPPY

The smallest puppy in the litter has the biggest impact in Mayapple’s picture book.

Abner and Fidelia Longbody, two dachshunds living with the Cleary family, have just become proud parents to a tight-knit family of seven puppies. The runt of the litter is Tiny, who “needed extra help at feeding time…and playtime…and bedtime.” Tiny is left behind when other puppies are adopted by nearby families. His parents miss their children, so Tiny sits close to bring them comfort. He repeats this move when Mr. and Mrs. Cleary receive an upsetting letter, when Grandpa Cleary feels old and forgotten, and when each child has a problem. However, Mr. Grimbly, the lonely next-door neighbor, won’t accept his company. He shouts at Tiny, which makes him feel sad and frightened. It takes the whole Cleary family to find Tiny again and comfort him. This sweet, simple debut from Mayapple will appeal to dog lovers and youngsters who often feel excluded. The text states that Tiny feels worried, forgotten, and left out because of his size, but a page or two showing how these emotions first took root would have been helpful. Eller’s full-color cartoon illustrations take up some of this slack, as large amounts of white space effectively emphasize just how small Tiny is.

An appealing story that shows insecure readers that they can be helpful.