PICTURE BOOK BY DOG

With crayons and paper, Dog creates a book to show appreciation for the home and best friend that are finally in its life.

In the illustrations, readers see Dog’s dangerous early life on the streets, the loneliness of the shelter, and the joy of finally having a friend and a home. There are several humorous moments in the story, as when Dog learns what “NOT to chew” and where “NOT to poo,” the latter complete with a hand-drawn map indicating locations both in and outside the house. However charming the story might be, though, the opening language poses a logical conundrum. Dog introduces itself and addresses readers in second person, saying: “and I made you this book.” From this beginning, the reasonable assumption is that the rest of the book will be directed to readers, as obviously the child who rescued Dog needs no introductions, but things change on the following page. Still in second person, Dog says: “I was lost before we met,” which is clearly Dog speaking to the child who found it at the shelter and took it home to become a part of their family. Readers will appreciate the sentiment but wonder just exactly how that “you” happened to shift. The illustrations vary the childlike style of Dog’s illustrations and a glossier look for life outside the book. The lucky child has brown skin and brown curly hair; Dog is a genial brown mutt.

A sweet story with a rather confused narrator.