Best in Show

PreS-Gr 2—Gem, a Standard Poodle puppy, was born to be a champion, and his owner, Abby, is going to be there for every prance and primp along the way to help him reach his "Best in Show" potential. Gem's coming-of-age story on the show circuit is more of a how-to for raising a champion than a story of a girl and her dog, and while it revolves around the high-stakes world of dog showing, there is little doubt that a perfect pup raised step-by-step in the perfect way will end up the winner at the end. Pencil and watercolor wash illustrations show the details of training a show dog. The instructional tone lets up a bit with the handler twisting his ankle at the big show, giving Abby a chance to take the ring with Gem and save the day. This is the kind of nail-biting action that readers will wish had pervaded the entire story, but ultimately the subject matter is too specialized for general interest.—Sarah Townsend, Norfolk Public Library, VA