If We Were Dogs

K-Gr 3–A fun, imaginative story of two friends playing. “If we were dogs, I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!” The bigger dog excitedly shares all the adventures they’ll have. Then the little dog speaks up; “Being a dog is YOUR idea!/ Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” Issue resolved, play resumes. The illustrations enhance and deepen the story. The enthusiastic Golden Retriever and a small black-and-white mutt show how ­dismayed they are to be dogs. When they drink from water bowls, the smaller dog happily splashes about in the bowl. The tale begins showing two children hiding under a table, one eagerly talking about dogs. The toys the children play with are incorporated into the drawings of their adventures. The colors are muted with some of the illustrations and text in panels. The text alternates between black or white font on the page or handwritten font in conversation bubbles. The front end papers show silhouettes of different dog breeds; the back end papers silhouette a ­variety of animals. With its cheerful drawings, this charming story of ­friendship, ­differences of opinion, and ­acceptance is great for both reading aloud and independently.