Bow-Wow-Meow

PreS-Gr 2—Originally published in Spanish, this warm, simple story is full of emotion and joy. Fabio is not like other dogs. He doesn't bark, play fetch, or wag his tail. He doesn't chase balls, roll over, or do anything that other dogs do. No matter what his boy Max and his parents do, they cannot make Fabio behave like a dog, and Fabio is puzzled by their efforts. One night, Max gets up for a glass of water and discovers that Fabio is nowhere to be found. Night after night, Max looks for Fabio, and night after night, Fabio remains missing. His curiosity piqued, Max stays up one night only to learn that Fabio has been sneaking out of the house and meeting up with a group of cats! Max secretly watches as Fabio plays with his "kitty pals" and enjoys doing things that cats do; he sharpens his claws, chases mice, climbs trees and drainpipes, tangles himself in balls of yarn, and, of course, "bow-wow-meows." Max is struck by how delighted Fabio looks, and the next morning, he greets Fabio with a bowl of milk and a soft "bow-wow-meow" of his own. Fabio suddenly perks up, purrs, and rubs his head against Max's legs, and the two are content at last. Max's selfless efforts to make his dog happy and his genuine acceptance of Fabio add depth to the otherwise lighthearted story. Gómez fully brings Fabio to life and captures a range of expressions with her colorful illustrations. The clean composition and bright cartoon style will appeal to young readers, and the interplay between text and art ranges from tender and sweet to laugh-out-loud funny.