I Want 100 Dogs

PreS-Gr 2--A curly-haired preschooler with light skin yearns for 100 dogs, while her practical parents talk her through the many ways dogs must be taken care of to temper her aspirations. "Where would 100 dogs sleep?" one asks as readers see a bed overflowingwith dogs. "Okay, then I want 90 dogs." In a reverse counting book, McAnulty brings humor as well as truth to how dogs must be taken care of--from feeding to grooming to training. Keane's illustrations boost the humor in this first-pet tale with telling expressions on the child's and parents' faces. Although there's no shortage of picture books about dogs for the toddler and preschool set, this one's sure to work well as a read-aloud and can also work as a fun supplement to kindergarten math units on counting by 10. VERDICT Recommended for public library collections in need of more humorous dog books and school libraries that could use counting concept books for the youngest students.--Carrie Voliva

The titular announcement--"I want 100 dogs"--is made by a curly headed, gap-toothed child to their two adults while the three gaze up at clouds that resemble canines. In the following pages, the child conjures up idyllic visions of this arrangement, while the adults manage to both acknowledge the youth's desire and counter with gentle pragmatism: "That sounds fun. But where would 100 dogs sleep?" The child continues the "I want" statements (obligingly decreasing the number of dogs by 10 on each spread), which are accompanied by dual visualizations of each scenario. From the child's perspective, bathing looks like a large swimming pool filled with 80 canines; from an adult's, it's a tiny backyard kiddie pool filled to bursting. Watercolor-and-ink-style digital illustrations from Keane (Make Way) have a lovely, fluid quality and are a hoot to boot, imbuing each wished-for dog with a vivid personality. The battle of wills is further underscored by astute dialogue from McAnulty (The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl), and the final scenes show a happy resolution for all concerned, one that seems to imply the presence of a successful long con. Human characters are portrayed with pink skin. Ages 3-5. Author's agent: Lori Kilkelly, LK Literary. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Oct.)

"A celebration of canine personalities for dog-loving readers." — Booklist