Review by Booklist Review
Ages 3^-6. L'Engle, best known for books for an older crowd, turns her attention to the preschool audience in this delightful offering. Touchethe poodle isn't pleased when a new dog joins the family. It's bad enough that the newcomer shares the spotlight; she also gets fed several times a day and does her business in something called a diaper. In persuasive first person, Toucheargues her own case. She's talented, smart, and very good-looking, "So why another dog?" she asks in a plaintive refrain. The text and art have a retro feel that works well and gives the book an unusual look. The oversize format, with plenty of white space, allows room for Toucheto roam, which she does with zest, and the watercolors, highlighted by spiral ink lines, are full of energy and movement. Young listeners, who will get the joke that Touchemisses, will find this very funny; adults who read L'Engle's note about her relationship with the real Touchewill be touched. --Ilene Cooper
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"Any family with a cosseted dog and a new baby will feel this is written just for them," PW wrote in a starred review. "The illustrations give the book an engaging retro feel, but the closing shot of dog and baby nestled together for a nap is timeless." Ages 5-8. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-A whimsical look at sibling rivalry from a canine point of view. When her mistress brings home a new baby girl, the resident dog, a stylish and articulate poodle, experiences several stages of adjustment (disbelief, disdain, acceptance, and finally affection). Children will revel in the distaste Touch expresses over the obvious inferiority of the newcomer while extolling her own virtues. Her observations are pointed, but because they are comparisons between dog and human, and humorously colored by her canine perspective, they are witty but never mean-spirited. Likewise, her eventual conclusion that "in every home there should be at least two dogs" is genuinely satisfying. The high-spirited, lolloping text is perfectly complemented by the illustrations and overall design. Watercolors reminiscent of the work of Ludwig Bemelmans or Marjorie Priceman follow the dog as she sulks, scowls, and snuggles her way across the pages of rich cream stock. Color, tone, and composition are used to evoke the mood and period. Effective use of font size and design underscores the conversational tone of the tale while enhancing the visual appeal. The extensive author's note relating the facts of Touch's eccentric and fascinating life adds appeal and rich background to the narrative. Colored-pencil drawings by the author, contemporary to the story, provide a fitting final flair.-Starr LaTronica, Four County Library System, Vestal, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
When her family brings home another dog, the poodle Touché is appalled. [cf2]She[cf1] is the perfect dog--talented, useful, and very good about sitting on laps. But as the new dog grows (the spirited ink and watercolor illustrations show that it's really a baby), Touché becomes very attached to her. The wry, affectionate story is based on L'Engle's own dog and includes an author's note. From HORN BOOK Fall 2001, (c) Copyright 2010. 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
Consequences attendant upon the arrival of a new member of the household, told from the perspective of a superior poodle, from the usually more sedate Newbery winner. Touché L'Engle-Franklin is unsettledand miffedwhen a baby, a human baby, makes an appearance at her house. Touché sees Jo as a rival: "One dog is enough for any family. I fail to see why I did not satisfy all requirements." Touché is, after all, bright and witty and obedient and knock-you-dead gorgeous, if she does say so herself. And this new beast, why, it doesn't even have a tail, let alone enough hair. It wears diapers, for goodness sake. But Jo grows at an alarming clip and soon enough is paying attention to Touché, an "encouraging sign of intelligence." That she likes. Indeed, she comes to the conclusion, the "unpredictable, surprising, amazing, astonishing, astounding conclusion: in every home there should be at least two dogs!" Sibling rivalry should always be so handled, minus all that messy rancor and physicality. Davenier's ( Iris and Walter , 2000, etc.) watery, wiggly colors create the perfect old-fashioned look that this remembrance requires. And L'Engle's author's note and original pictures introduce the real poodle who inspired the story. Touché indeed. (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
