Review by Booklist Review
In her latest adventure, Sally the dog heads to the groomer, and it's all about looking good. Before her first visit, the pup is puzzled as she is taken for a walk and passes by her usual destinations without stopping. Upon their arrival, the groomer introduces himself and begins transforming her shaggy coat into a clean, smooth shape, highlighted by two blue bows. While Sally is being fussed over, her two owners have a sprucing up themselves, and all three of them come out with shorter hair and a new outlook. The illustrations, which appear in various sizes, were created digitally and offer bright, cheerful colors and a step-by-step approach to dog grooming. For a young child who will be having a first haircut, perhaps, Sally reveals much of what's in store for them: all the fragrances, the mirrors, and the blow dryer, plus the proud conclusion. Sally's delightful experience with the groomer may ease a child's concern over a haircut and turn it into an enjoyable event.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
More excitement is on the horizon for Sally. When the small pooch, whom readers may recognize from Sally's Big Day (2023), and two of her humans go out, they walk past the park and even the coffee shop. Where can they be going? At the top of some steps, they meet a man named Omar. "Omar's place smells like a garden. Sally sees combs and brushes and bows." Omar puts her in the sink with lots of bubbles (Sally enjoys biting them). After the bath comes the hair dryer. It's loud, but it blows soothing warm air. Then Omar clips and cuts and trims Sally's fur, and she gets a biscuit for being such a good dog. Her humans return to the shop, and they have new looks, too! Once home for a nap, Sally dreams of those fun bubbles. Larsen and Lo team up again to bring sweet pup Sally's simple adventures to life. The tale is told in short, declarative (or interrogative) sentences. Lo's digitally created artwork is soft and leans toward the pastel. Toddlers who are trepidatious about their first trips to the barber or the salon will identify and be calmed…and probably want to play with bubbles. Sally's family is light-skinned, and Omar is dark-skinned. Reassurance that new experiences don't have to be scary. (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
