Dog Parade

K-Gr 1—Dogs of all types and sizes comply with their owners' wishes and don costumes for a parade. Whether readers' laugh or groan at the prospect of canines cavorting in clothing, youngsters will recognize the behavior of certain breeds ranging from a frisky terrier to a shy hound, and they all aim to please their humans. The lighthearted artwork is rendered in gouache on watercolor paper. Each pooch portrait is isolated on a page with a plain pastel background so that viewers can fully appreciate the dog's facial expression and reaction to his costume. Fans of David McKee's Elmer's Special Day (Andersen, 2009) and the story-line sequence of animals on parade will find a contrast here with Joosse's simple array of dog breeds expressing their opinions about the situation, without a traditional plot. While supplementary in nature, this book could be used with any costume-wearing theme, even Halloween.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA