Dozens of Dachshunds: A Counting, Woofing, Wagging Book

PreS-K--One warm, sunny day, crowds of people and small dogs swarm a nearby park to celebrate Dachshund Day. Bedecked in colorful costumes, dachshunds arrive in groups and bring smiles to the faces of all. Balloons, songs, and tasty treats abound as dachshunds and the people who love them come together to savor the sights, smells, and sounds of this fun-filled day. Digitally rendered illustrations incorporate the feeling of a sunny day through texture, shading, and warm colors. Many of the angles are low, highlighting the short stature of these iconic dogs against the legs of nearby adults. The people are depicted in a variety of skin tones; one child is using a wheelchair. The illustrations are the unquestionable focus of this story, as the brief text is carefully placed so as not to interfere with them. Singsong, rhyming couplets are found on nearly every page and are ideally suited to a preschool audience. Though the meter is not consistent from page to page, it is nonetheless an enjoyable story to read aloud. Each page features an increasing number of dachshunds, from one to twelve, reinforcing counting skills. VERDICT Those who love dachshunds will enjoy sharing this delightful story with the young children in their lives.--Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L.

The rhythm of the story's rhyming couplets adds to the upbeat nature of this work, and the descriptive language offers youngsters opportunities to make meaningful connections between the text and illustrations. By the time kids reach the story's end, they'll want to sing along with the closing song: "We love dachshunds, short and long. / They are bold, and they are strong. / They are loyal. They are proud. / They may be small, but their barks are LOUD!" Delightful dachshund facts round things off in the back matter. - Booklist