Review by Booklist Review
In this paws-itively delightful picture book, prolific award-winner Elliott turns his considerable wit and whimsy to the consideration of our best furry, four-footed friend. The book profiles 17 dog breeds, from the well-known and beloved (Labrador, Dachshund, Bulldog, various terriers) to the whimsically woolly (Komondor) to the Xoloitzcuintli, and each spread presents a lively, inventive poem evoking each dog's distinctive traits and endearing quirks, accompanied by a witty paragraph giving interesting details and background on the breed. Reinforcing all the delightful variety that a dog can be, the book's exuberant art comes from an assemblage of 17 accomplished illustrators (with many award-winners in this distinguished pack), working in a wide range of styles and mediums to conjure up a wildly canny collection of canine portraiture. Enhanced by clever layouts and embellished typography, each spread offers an individual, inspired take on the peculiar charms of each breed. A fetching profile of each contributor includes the dogs who inspired them. This collection of clever, compelling canine odes is a truly tail-wagging choice to sit, stay, and savor.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This verse survey of different dog breeds draws its energy from spirited language by Elliott (Color the Sky) and friendly dog portraits by 18 artists. Covering breeds ranging from Afghan Hound to Xoloitzcuintli, each spread features a poem, an illustration, and prose text with more information, including little-known and surprising trivia. Kicking off, a hymn of praise to the Labrador retriever ("You hunt. You fish./ You search and find") accompanies vignettes by Ebony Glenn. Charles Santoso contributes a bulldog family portrait ("Head like a melon"). And Cátia Chien portrays a poodle ("An athlete!/ A surprise!/ A tough guy in disguise!") lifting a ship filled with other dogs, while text describes the way poodles' classic haircut warms their joints and vital organs when they retrieve hunters' ducks from cold water. It's not all fancy breeds, either: Oge Mora's collage portrait of a proud mutt accompanies more about the "Everydog." Though a handful of lines feel outmoded ("In spite of their roly-poly physiques, Bulldogs can be quite athletic"), a bouquet of art styles and media, fast-moving verse, and entertaining facts provide varied entryways into this amiable accounting. Ages 4--8. Agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary. (Aug.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Eighteen children's book illustrators portray favorite dog breeds, from Labs to mutts, showing their stuff. In their closing statements, the artists pose with favorite pooches, sometimes in childhood snapshots. Elliott's accompanying comments, which range from two words for the Old English sheepdog ("Hair! / Everywhere!") to affectionate rhymed or free verse sentiments, add further buoyant notes. Still, the illustrations steal the show--beginning with Ebony Glenn's gallery of Labradors and their owners (all exhibiting a range of hues) and continuing to Charles Santoso's pile of rumpled, sleepy bulldog pups ("Head like a melon. / Face of a felon"), Matthew Cordell's Scottish terrier marching proudly at the head of a line of full-dress bagpipers, and other purebreds large and small. Capping it all is Oge Mora's equally proud, paper-collage mutt: "A little this. / A little that. / A little everything but cat." Notes in smaller type accompanying the entries point out each breed's distinctive history and characteristics as well as their less savory tendencies to shed, drool, pass gas, or snore. For dogless readers eager for companionship and undeterred by the latter, a reference to shelters at the end offers a suggestion about where to begin a search. Utterly fetching. (Informational picture book/poetry. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
