FAITH AND THE ELECTRIC DOGS

A joy—an original, uniquely funny first novel that is thought-provoking as well, from a witty ambassador of languages and cultures. The first-person narrator, a little dog (``electric'' is wordplay on Spanish for ``current,'' as well as ``cheap'' and ``no good'') of the streets of Mexico, discovers a willful child, Faith, being harassed by boys. He saves her, and she brings him home where he observes the surroundings. ``I must admit to being a little naive,'' he says about the life of a house dog. ``Contrary to rumors,'' a house dog does not have his own chair at the dinner table, and kibbles are an unwelcome surprise. His point of view is of a worldly, street-wise character who understands many dog languages, several human languages, and a great deal about the transplanted girl from San Francisco who dislikes Mexico and wants to return ``home home'' so much that she designs a rocket to transport the two of them there. The adventures proceed at a fast clip, always accompanied by the priceless comments of the electric dog. The design of the book includes Jennings's chapter decorations in black-and-white and translations in the wide margins for the many Spanish words (and French and Bowwow—whatever comes up) effortlessly introduced into the story. A great read-aloud, y un libro perfecto! (glossary) (Fiction. 8-12)