The Perfect Dog

PreS-Gr 2—A little girl is finally allowed to get a pet, and she knows just what qualities to look for: "The perfect dog should be big… bigger…biggest! Maybe not this big." Digital illustrations in bright colors depict three different large—and one very large—breeds. So begins a playful romp through the traits a perfect dog should possess. Frequent repetition of superlatives is featured throughout, illustrated by comparisons of the pups' hair, running speed, and general fanciness. Humorous, cartoonlike illustrations provide dog enthusiasts plenty of breeds to inspect, and demonstrate what happens when a dog is "too much": the too snuggly hound squashes the little girl into a chair as he tries to lie on top of her. Ultimately, the protagonist discovers that there is no perfect pooch recipe, but the end result still sees girl and pet happily united. While no new ground is tread here, animal lovers will certainly enjoy examining a variety of canine companions (the endpapers alone feature dozens of doggie faces), and the simple text plus bold illustrations make this an option for reading aloud.