WORST IN SHOW

A ferret and a corgi team up to thwart crime at a dog show.

Fil the ferret belongs to the Furetto crime family, caretakers of the Jon Bon Jovi Arena in Hackensack, New Jersey—though he’d rather whip up the perfect souffle than pick locks. But Uncle Giuseppe promises to let Fil pursue his culinary ambitions if he can keep the arena safe in the family’s absence. That will be no small feat: A plot to sabotage the Baskerville Dog Show (the arena’s biggest event) is targeting Dot, a sassy, fashion-loving corgi favored to win. After Fil warns Dot, the duo investigate and quickly discover the culprits: the Vesle Gang, aka the Wisconsin Weasels, who are moving in on Furetto territory. The story includes colorful rival dogs and their snooty, overcompetitive humans, and weasel schemes that start off silly (itching powder) but become more serious threats. Recaps, helpful for young readers taking the narrative in chapter by chapter, center the characters’ emotional reaction to story developments; the writing throughout is as kid-friendly as the comedic content. The heart of the narrative is Fil and Dot’s bond, built on mutual empathy and support for each other’s passions. The ferrets are Italian-coded, the weasels Scandinavian, and Dot’s human, Inéz, Latine. Occasional spotlight art from Jessell is appropriately adorable.

A marvelous mammalian mafia comedy that models friendship and healthy emotionality.