Spike: Ugliest Dog in the Universe

K-Gr 2—After winning an "Ugliest Dog in the Universe" contest, Spike is abandoned by his owner, due to his owner's cat-loving girlfriend. The friendly canine finds temporary shelter with Joe, the boy next door, but they must try to convince Joe's mom to let him stay. Desperate to avoid the pound, Spike seeks advice on how to be beautiful from an award-winning cat, Evangeline. Later, in a weird twist, he ends up saving her from being catnapped, becoming a hero. Ending with a two-page essay by Joe on "How I Draw Dogs," the story feels overcomplicated and convoluted. Characters are crafted from fabric and paper with mixed results. Spike definitely looks ugly and fits well into the story, and Evangeline is beautifully created from an old dress. However, the other characters don't look as well constructed as those in Frasier's earlier, breathtaking works. The background is made from torn old jeans, and although the artist uses them creatively, it's questionable whether they add anything to the piece. In the end, the subject matter will appeal to some readers, but there are many other dog books with better illustrations and more-developed stories.—Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI