Review by Booklist Review
Primavera introduces a charming story about a dog discovering self-acceptance and finding his way back home. The dog's owner loves baked potatoes so much that she names her new furry friend Baked Potato. While on an excursion, Baked Potato becomes lost and embarks on an adventure looking for his owner. Baked Potato encounters a big dog and a fox who make him even more confused by calling him a groundhog and a rabbit. But a wise old owl sets him straight, clarifying that he's a dog and encouraging him to use his superior canine sense of smell to find his way back home. Medina's thick-outlined artwork is cheerfully cartoonish even when Baked Potato's encounter with the fox is slightly worrisome and captures a charming sense of place along with its winsome characters. This playful story about a comical misunderstanding would be a nice storytime match with Mo Willems' I'm a Frog! (2013) and Karina Wolf's I Am Not a Fox (2018).--Vivian Alvarez Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"You're my little baked potato," the lady in this story coos at her new brown terrier, inspired both by his appearance and her favorite food. The endearment soon morphs into the dog's actual name, which is all well and good until owner and dog are accidentally separated. Alone in the big wide world, Baked Potato begins to realize that maybe he's not a baked potato after all. But what is he? A big mean dog insists he's a groundhog; a hungry fox sees a delicious bunny. It takes a wise, protective owl to explain to Baked Potato that he is actually a dog, that dogs "are very good at finding things, especially with their noses," and that home and his beloved owner are well within reach. Most readers will be well acquainted with the improbable nicknames people come up with for their pets (not to mention their favorite people), and if Primavera (Auntie Claus) stretches that idea a little thin by having the hound conflate his nickname with reality, the perky protagonist, swooping digital ink lines, and bright colors by Medina (Juana and Lucas) should be engaging enough to see the story through to its happy ending by a cozy fire. Ages 3-5. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Horn Book Review
A lady (her only name in the book) loves baked potatoes so much that when she decides to get a dog, she finds a cute little pup that is smooth and warm, and she could have eaten him right up. She dubs him Baked Potato, and she loved [him] even more than she loved baked potatoes. One day the lady goes out, and the dog goes looking for her. In searching for the lady, he also, inadvertently, searches for his own identity, as a series of encounters leads him to realize he is not, in fact, an actual baked potato (or a groundhog, or a bunny rabbit, as others mistake him for). Medinas digital illustrations use color and line effectively: a fierce dog our pup encounters lives in a bright red house that seems to be tilting aggressively; a kind owl who later rescues the pup has its wing reassuringly curved around him. Though the details are quirky, the arc of the story is familiar and comforting. The dog ends up at home with the loving lady, curled up by the fire, with pictures on the mantel that hint at his life story and the welcome realization: Im just like me. susan dove lempke September/October 2019 p.68(c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A cozy story about a curious pup with a slight identity crisis who runs into a host of characters on his way to reunion with his owner.A stylish, mature lady has few loves: potatoes, dogs, and walks in the rain. When the lady adopts an adorable little brown dog, she notices that he is "smooth" and "warm" and that she could just "[eat] him right up," so she combines two of her loves and starts calling him Baked Potato. The pair eat dinner by the fireplace and cuddle up next to each other in bedthey seem to have the perfect arrangement. But one eventful day, the lady steps out, and the dog's adventure begins. Venturing out in search of the lady, he meets a big, rude dog, a fox, and an owl, all of which assure him he is not a baked potato (though the fox does think he'd be "good with carrots and onions") and suggest alternatives. The digital illustrations bring a sense of vitality while maintaining adorableness, creating the scenes with firm lines and bright colors. The use of vibrant reds, greens, and blues is striking against the white page and helps amp both excitement and coziness. The lady has brown skin and puffy, dark brown curls.Children and caregivers alike will enjoy this charming tale about a dog who must find out if he's a baked potato, a groundhog, or a bunny. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
