FUCILE, Tony. Poor Louie. illus. by Tony Fucile. 40p. Candlewick. Apr. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763658281.

PreS-Gr 1 –Louie is a cute and cuddly Chihuahua in crisis. He speaks directly to readers and tries to solicit their sympathy. The pup recounts his idyllic life as the apple of his human parents’ eye. Walks in the park, eating ice cream, and shopping excursions are all part of their normal family routine, along with dinner, movies, and plenty of snuggle time. Occasionally Louie is subjected to the boisterous attention of the babies of his mom’s friends, but these are minor annoyances in his otherwise perfect life. Then, EVERYTHING changes. “Over time, Mom’s belly [grows]…and [grows]…and [grows].” There is lots of new stuff—two beds, two hiking pouches, and a double stroller. It is just too much. Louie is convinced that his life is over and he will have to leave. That is, until his parents return and introduce him to his baby brother and he realizes that he hasn’t been displaced after all. There is plenty of love to go around. Fucile provides a creative and comic look at the arrival of a new sibling. His expressive cartoon artwork is funny and endearing and the perfect complement to the spare text. VERDICT A great read-aloud for any apprehensive older sibling and a fun storytime selection. Children will enjoy chiming in with the “Poor Louie” refrain.–Luann Toth, School Library Journal

This review was published in the School Library Journal May 2017 issue.