A Dog Wearing Shoes

PreS-Gr 1—When Mini and her mother are driving home one day, they come across a lost dog. Though her mother points out that the dog's yellow shoes mean he probably has an owner who misses him, the young girl is determined to keep him. But after the dog runs off again, Mini realizes that she needs to track down his real family. The book ends on a happy note, however, with Mini learning a lesson about responsible pet ownership. Rendered in pencil, with splashes of color added digitally (the yellow of the shoes, the red of a leash), the black-and-white illustrations are immensely appealing. With exaggerated bug-eyed, wide-grinned expressions, Mini is wonderfully endearing, while the dog, a long-nosed little bundle of energy, will have children clamoring for their own canine companion (the appended tips on dog adoption may come in handy). This is a gently told, familiar story, though certainly one that will readily find an audience, but the visuals save it from becoming humdrum. Ko makes excellent use of shading, with detailed and sophisticated results, from the traffic jam in the opening spread to Mini's living room. Infused with movement and life, these illustrations will have kids and adults alike enthralled.