Atkins, Laura. Sled Dog Dachshund. illus. by An Phan. 32p. Traitor Dachshund/Minted Prose. Oct. 2016. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9780996545433.

PreS-Gr 1 –In this adventurous story set during an Alaskan sled dog race, a spunky young dachshund named Jasper is determined to be part of a “big dog” team. After showing the huskies that he has what it takes to compete, Jasper is told that he is simply too small. Convinced that he can help, he sneaks aboard a sled just as the nine-day race commences. The petite pup then puts his whole heart into finding a way to help his furry friends succeed. Illustrated with vibrant scenes depicting the snowy action, this title is sure to inspire little ones with the idea that sometimes enthusiasm and courage can be as important as size. VERDICT Perfect for one-on-one shares or as a winning storytime offering that will hold young listeners’ attention until the last page.–Mary Jennings, Camano Island Library, WA

Blabey, Aaron. Pig the Pug. illus. by Aaron Blabey. 32p. Scholastic. Dec. 2016. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9781338112450.

PreS-Gr 2 –Pig, a greedy little pug, lives with Trevor, an amiable dachshund. While Pig has an assorted array of goodies—toy bones, balls, chew toys—he refuses to share the wealth with Trevor. When Pig’s companion gently attempts to persuade the pug that playing together might be fun, Pig explodes. He jumps on top of a gigantic pile of his loot, jealously guarding it from Trevor—and soon finds that pride goes before a (painful) fall. The story is straightforward and fun, though the text, told in rhyming verse, is occasionally strained (“And once he had gathered them/up in a pile,/he howled from the top/with a satisfied smile.”). The rich, saturated acrylic artwork has a caricaturelike feel and will invite giggles of delight from readers and listeners. Plump Pig is particularly exaggerated, with bulging eyes, a protruding tongue, and a manic expression as he gestures wildly atop his mountain of toys. Young children will revel in his unapologetically naughty antics and might even learn a lesson or two about the value of sharing. VERDICT Though this tale takes on a familiar subject, it should provoke laughter from the intended audience. A fine option where books on sharing are needed.–Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

Jenkins, Emily. A Greyhound, a Groundhog. illus. by Chris Appelhans. 32p. Random/Schwartz & Wade. Jan. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780553498059.

PreS-Gr 2 –In a picture book that demands to be read aloud, a greyhound and a groundhog spin in visual and verbal circles. A limited gray and brown watercolor palette—and an equally limited selection of consonant and vowel sounds—characterize this phonologically clever, fundamentally joyful, and subtly unified picture book. Words, text, and creatures begin in simple lines (the words “A hound. A round hound” are printed in a straight line above a sleeping greyhound on the first page), but all three increasingly start to rotate (the sentence, “The ground and a hog and some grey and a dog” later curves around the page, accompanied by a whirling, tongue-lolling canine). Just as readers grow accustomed to the muted colors and tongue twisters (“Around, round hound/Around, groundhog!”), both begin to change: “around and around” becomes “and astound” as the greyhound—fully facing readers for the first time—notices one butterfly, and then more, come into the visual field, bringing with them the latent pinks, blues, and purples that an observant viewer will have seen hiding in the grays all along. The butterflies soon fly off the edge of the page, but the amazement lingers as the eponymous animals, finally worn out, settle in for a nap…accompanied by newly restraightened, resimplified text. VERDICT A lovely, lyrical paean to the natural order, with an element of wonder and grace. Perfect for one-on-one and group sharing.–Jill Ratzan, Congregation Kol Emet, Yardley, PA

MEDWay, Jim & Mark Fletcher. Big Dogs, Little Dogs: A Visual Guide to the World’s Dogs. illus. by Jim Medway. 32p. Firefly. Nov. 2016. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781770858282.

PreS-Gr 3 –Chinese crested, English cocker spaniel, puli, corgi, and more: breeds both familiar and unfamiliar are positively bursting out of this oversize volume. A table of contents breaks down the dogs by general groups and provides a bit of information. There’s a spread for each of the seven major categories (working dogs, hound dogs, sporting dogs, and so on) as well as sections on European, world, and mixed-breed dogs. A final spread is devoted to puppies (the authors explain that “some puppies look very different from the adult dogs they turn into”). Unlike most animal reference guides, this one lacks photographs and contains very little text. Each playful image is accompanied by the breed’s name, and a listing at the end features a brief description of each dog, along with a page number indicating where in the book the canine is located. However, what this offering lacks in content it more than makes up for in personality. Medway imbues each of his canines with individuality (an admirable feat, given the sheer number of dogs covered), from the sad-eyed bullmastiff to the scowling bulldog to the cheery American Eskimo dog. These expressive creatures have a gentle, almost old-fashioned look to them, but the artist never veers into anthropomorphism. VERDICT Those seeking facts for school reports should stick to more traditional resources, but dog lovers will spend hours poring over these winsome illustrations.–Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal