Ludwig the Sea Dog

K-Gr 2—Ludwig the dog receives a postcard from his friend Peter the Penguin, asking for help with his submarine stuck at the bottom of the ocean. Ludwig wishes to help, but having lived his life literally in a book and with no knowledge of the sea, he is unable to assist. With the help of his friends, some of whom he pulled from other books, he's finally able to help out and complete his journey. The overall story of conquering fears to help friends is nothing new, but the fact that Ludwig and his friends are book characters and travel to different environments via books or postcards is an interesting idea that pays off—once readers figure out the concept, as it isn't effectively introduced. The artwork is adorable: a nice combination of cartoons, collage, and some photography. Most of the pages are in 3-D, which definitely adds to the appeal. However, not all the visuals have that desired effect; some of the artwork seems to pop out better than others, while the others only partially stand out and can seem a bit confusing with glasses on.