Every Day's a Dog's Day

PreS-Gr 3—Simple verses about the seasons and the holidays, written from a dog's point of view. Sakamoto's bright, cartoonlike depictions of Buddy, Rosalie, Barkley, and Fizz are adorable and funny, and will surely elicit long and loud aws and giggles. In "Valentine's Day," Rosalie waxes sentimental about her owner, who "hugs me, gives me kisses,/and something good to gnaw./She has my heart already,/so I offer her my paw." Wordplay abounds, as in the game "Keep Away": "You see this stick? You want it, don'tcha?/You'll race me fast to get it, won'tcha?" Events such as grooming, beach visits, barbecues, and playtime are depicted. This read-aloud-size book pairs well with Jon Katz's Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm (Holt, 2011). For older children, the poems and pictures present a structured overview of what a year may entail; younger children will just appreciate the poems in and of themselves.—Tess Pfeifer, Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield, MA