Daisy and Josephine

PreS-Gr 2—Young Daisy travels the world with her father, a famous performer, and her teacher, Mrs. Minniear. Although she is loved, Daisy feels friendless and shy, and, to relieve her loneliness, her dad gives her a French bulldog puppy. Appearing ordinary at first glance, Josephine does not act like an average dog. She won't fetch, chase squirrels, or catch a ball, but she can speak and loves clothes. The pup prefers tutus and tiaras, styling herself and Daisy into "pajama princesses" at bedtime. Daddy tucks them in and sings them a song, and Daisy sings Josephine to sleep. Kuo's graceful pencil illustrations are digitally colored and saturated with lush greens and more subdued peach tones. Josephine's adorable homeliness endears, as do Daisy's freckles, but she and her father are not quite as expressively drawn as the pup. This sweet, cozy tale will appeal to readers who wish that their animal companions would speak or to fans of "Fancy Nancy" for its chic dress-up element.—Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY