Me & Dog

K-Gr 2—A story about a dog that thinks the world revolves around his boy. Not a particularly new subject, but one that is approached with verve and sparkles with spirit that young readers will understand and relate to. Sid, as he states, is just an ordinary kid that makes mistakes, but his dog, Murphy, thinks Sid is the "Supreme Almighty Ruler. Super-duper boss and king of absolutely everything." Digitally rendered and larger-than-life illustrations focus on how the young protagonist and his beloved pet interact and even how they interpret the world. While Weingarten attempts to explore the bigness of the world through Sid's eyes and displays a childlike wonder at life's small mysteries—and Sid's explanations of them—it is truly the core idea of a boy and his dog that win the day. Potentially arcane to those adults who choose to overthink it, this story may not be a first purchase, but its spirit and illustrations certainly make it a worthwhile addition. A winning example of fun and prose from an already established humor columnist, Me & Dog won't stay on the shelf for long.—Ashley Prior, Lincoln Public Library, RI