A KID'S BEST FRIEND

Ajmera (Animal Friends, not reviewed, etc.) teams up with Fisher for this third entry in the It's a Kids World series, which focuses on the worldwide similarities of children, and in this case, their dogs. The irresistible cover photo shows a cheeky Dalmatian planting a smooch on a cute African-American girl, and black-and-white Dalmatian dots decorate the endpapers to define the cheery, playful tone. Subsequent photos throughout the volume show children of different ages, ethnic groups, and countries enjoying outdoor interactions with dogs large and small. Many countries are represented, with the name of the country printed unobtrusively in a corner of each photo. The short, lyrical text is printed in extra-large type, explaining in a few simple, well-crafted sentences why a dog is not just man's best friend, but a kid's as well. An unnecessary one-page introduction by Super Gus (a cartoon character) of Planet Dog (a charity associated with one of the authors) is a rather jarring note that doesn't fit in with the rest of the work. Two concluding pages of basic facts about dogs are more useful, though not as entertaining as the charming photographs of smiling children and their beloved best friends. (Picture book. 3-7)