Santiago Stays

Simple and satisfying, with a brief text in a large font, this works well as a read-to for ers and read-alone for very new readers (with, perhaps, a little initial help). A young boy wants to take his little French bulldog Santiago for a walk, but, confoundingly, Santiago refuses all enticements--his favorite sweater, a yummy treat, even a hamburger. Up till this point in the story the figures of the boy and his dog have been foregrounded against mostly blank white space, but the next spread reveals the setting--a room with a crib in the corner. When the boy gives in to his frustration, throws up his hands, and yells ("SANTIAGO!"), a plaintive "Waaaaaaaaaaa!" floats from the crib out over the room, and the reason for Santiago's stubbornness is revealed: he is watching over the baby. "Good boy, Santiago." The illustrations, in pencil, marker, ink, tissue paper, and digital color, capture the boy's persistence and the bulldog's dug-in resistance; the warm palette is perfect for this affection-filled family story. martha v. parravano