Art's art

PreS-Gr 2--Cam, a young boy with brown skin, loves to create art. He makes different types of art all day, and his father either proudly hangs it up or displays it nearby. One day, Cam gets a dog who he names Art. The friendly dog not only loves art like Cam, but also tries to make his own art, leading to several artistic mishaps. This is a refreshing early reader that combines story, easy-to-understand words, and pictures into a book that can be proudly given to the youngest readers. The font is large, and appealing pictures of Cam and Art make readers want to learn more about this duo. VERDICT Give to patrons who are eager for an compelling story as well as a book to develop their vocabulary.--Maria Graybosch

A young artist and his dog learn to create together. Cam makes paintings, drawings, and small buildings that his dad proudly displays, but when Art arrives, the rambunctious dog shakes things up. He leaves paw prints all over Cam's paintings, knocks the boy's buildings down, and, worst of all, makes "his own buildings"--stinky messes that resemble chocolate kisses emanating steamy fumes. Cam and his dad are quite upset until the resourceful boy devises a plan to redirect Art's passion. He moves the art studio outdoors, dips the dog's paws and his own feet in "safe paint," and creates art that Dad is happy to hang on the wall. Art now understands the process of art making. "He fetched the blocks. Cam stacked them high." Cam doesn't even mind when Art continues to follow his instincts and makes "his own building": "It was okay. This time he was outside." The flattened cartoon illustrations emphasize the boy's art; kids will laugh at the scatological humor. Emphasizing shorta sounds, this easy reader features concise and straightforward text and a simple story. Brown-skinned, dark-haired Cam and his father have a loving relationship, and budding artists will appreciate that Cam finds creative solutions that allow his canine pal to explore his artistic side. An accessible tale that makes clear that anyone--even the four-legged--can be an artist.(Early reader. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.