Dear Hot Dog

PreS-Gr 2—These poems look at everyday things like socks and leaves through the eyes of three youngsters. Both evocative and childlike, "Hot Dog" has a wonderful image of a frankfurter "snug as a puppy in your bready bun. I love you." "Ice-Cream Cone" explores the senses of touch and taste as a girl savors every last bit of the melting confection. In a final twist, she gives the cone to her little brother: "He likes them./I don't," making the verse seem to be the authentic voice of a child. The full-color and black-line illustrations on mostly white backgrounds are energetic and show children in poses that belong only to the young. They support the verses beautifully, although one slightly misses the mark. "Summer Sun" takes place at a pool, but the children appear to be seaside. As with many collections, not all of the poems are equally strong. Nevertheless, this book is lovely overall. Because the topics are concrete, it is a great tool for teaching poetry.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA