No More Bows

Hugo is a patient yellow dog, always willing to play "tea party... and dress-up... and house... all morning" with his owner, Milly. But when Milly insists that he don a series of huge, ridiculous red bows ("Frilly ones. Sparkly ones. Bows with jewels and bows with buttons") before going out on their daily walks, Hugo becomes the laughingstock of his canine peers and runs away. Cotterill uses a broad, bouncy cartooning style reminiscent of mid-1960s animation for her first picture book, a story that raises important questions about the give and take of friendship that aren't entirely addressed. Milly and Hugo clearly miss each other during his brief rebellion, but she remains clueless that her actions are responsible. It's up to Hugo to find a solution that works for them both: a jaunty bow tie he can proudly wear around his neck. Everybody ends up happy, but astute readers may note that Milly didn't have to do any real work or compromising--and that she herself wears some rather demure bows in her own red pigtails. Ages 4-8. Agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Agency. (Jan.)

PreS-Gr 2--Cotterill's debut picture book is a delight. From its vibrant and expressive illustrations to its hilarious and heartwarming story, this is a book to be savored and shared. Hugo, a large yellow dog, lives with red-headed Milly, who loves to play tea party and dress up. Patient Hugo tolerates all the imaginary play (he knows that Milly will eventually take him for a walk), until the day that Milly decides that it is time to dress up Hugo with a large red bow. Hugo is "not amused" and feels the ridicule of the neighborhood dogs peering out their windows as he is dragged by on his walk. Hugo gets rid of the first bow, but that is not the end of his embarrassment. Milly gets bigger, frillier, and sparklier bows. Hugo feels annoyance, anger, and despair, and Cotterill cleverly conveys Hugo's range of emotions and verbal retorts on a spread in which Hugo sports a wide variety of ridiculous bows. Eventually, Hugo declares, "NO MORE BOWS!" and runs away, but life without Milly turns out to be lonely. So Hugo returns--with a plan. He shows Milly the type of bow he'd actually enjoy, and soon he is strutting through town with a pert bow tie and a big smile. This charming book celebrates the special bond young children have with dogs as well as the compromises that must occur in any friendship. VERDICT Storytime crowds will enjoy this story and clamor for another installment.--Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, CA