Ruff!: And the Wonderfully Amazing Busy Day

PreS-Gr 2—Ruff, a white dog with brown spots, likes to be busy. "Busy, busy, all day long, toodle-oodle, that's my song!" he sings and wishes for someone to sing with him. While digging a small pond in his backyard, he unwittingly ruins a mouse's house. He promises to build Hubble a new one, which he does as the little mouse passes the time exercising, knitting, and playing his trumpet. As the two friends clean up the pond and sing together, an angry little duck lands in the water. Sobbing, Lottie tells how her small wings could not keep up with the other ducks as they were flying to their new home. Ruff tries to cheer her up with a sun hat, water balloon, and a half-eaten sausage, but nothing works. Then the dog and mouse realize that she needs a home, and their new pond needs a duck. During one wonderfully amazing day, Ruff has made two friends. The palette of soft primary colors outlined in black is just right for this cheery tale. The gentle text is satisfying to read aloud, and the simple songs are fun to sing. This is a sure winner for storyhour.—Mary Jean Smith, formerly at Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN