Dog-Gone School

Gr 1–3—Carefully posed photographs and short poems present a cast of attractive dogs appearing in human guise as they did in the Schmidts's Loose Leashes (Random, 2009). Representing schoolchildren, one pup wears safety goggles while one sports a backpack, but otherwise they are not clothed. They are all handsome, and many have naturally mournful-looking faces so that they seem expressive. Only the poems suggest that they might be active, playful, or naughty. Seeing a couple of canines seated nicely on a chair next to an office door labeled "Principal," readers are told that "one of these two fellows/chewed up their teacher's shoe." The spare use of props and settings, starting with a large yellow school bus with dogs gazing out of four windows, generally represent school activities. "Book Nook" seriously misses the mark, however, with broad shelves of what appear to be thin, identical bound files in varied colors. "Tales of knights and fairy tales,/Facts on mummies, bats, or whales!" It doesn't really look to be "this cool place." Though the scheme and poetry fall flat, both do offer nice variety in the poetic forms and dogs. A concluding "class" list identifies an impressive 31 different breeds-only one dog appears twice, though some are similar in appearance. Some teachers may find useful examples for teaching poetry, and dog-loving browsers will be attracted by these endearing animals.—Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston