Our Very Own Dog: Taking Care of Your First Pet
(Read and Wonder)

In calm, authoritative narration, a girl describes how her family's new dog, Sophie, acclimated to her new home after being adopted. Her observations about common dog behaviors ("Sophie never minded getting dirty. One day, she splashed through every puddle in the park, then shook out her fur to get dry") will be familiar to many readers with dogs, and assorted tips and facts, scattered across the pages, echo the girl's comments ("Shaking is a highly efficient way for a dog to get dry--much quicker than a towel!"). Rubbino's loose, smudgy, mixed-media art calls to mind finger painting, warmly capturing the activity--and occasional chaos--of life with a dog. Families in the early stages of bringing a dog into their lives should find this a reassuring guide to understanding their new pet. Ages 3-7. (Jan.)

PreS-Gr 3—After living in an animal shelter, Sophie the dog now has a home of her very own. The members of her new family have done their research and are very well prepared for her arrival. They have provided food, bedding, toys, and items to keep Sophie safe, such as a leash, collar, and name tag. Sophie is tentative at first but soon learns the routine of the family and even a few commands. Things are not always perfect, but there is plenty of love and forgiveness in her new home, and lots of fun, too. This title is chock-full of information for new and prospective dog owners. In addition to the main story line, there are also tips in an italicized font on each page for raising a dog and creating a healthy environment for it. Topics range from bathing and grooming to proper dog park etiquette. The illustrations, rendered in mixed media, are colorful and fun, with an added touch of whimsy. The endpapers are covered with canines of a variety of breeds, and readers will enjoy seeing how many they can identify, even though the breed names are not listed. VERDICT Ideal as a conversation starter for families contemplating adopting a dog, this will also serve as a handbook for the very young in the early stages of welcoming a furry addition to the family.—Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE