Dog and Bear: Tricks and Treats

PreS-Gr 1—Dog and Bear are back, and they've got some tricks and treats ready for Halloween. Whether it's picking out costumes, manning the ding-donging front door, or going trick-or-treating in a tricky way, the two friends are always ready to help each other out with a smile and a laugh. Seeger once again infuses the three episodic stories with lighthearted humor. Full of simple wordplay and kindhearted irony, each mini-story begins with a title and ends with a clever twist. The humor strengthens the friendship of the eager and fun-loving characters in an amusing and inclusive way. The acrylic paint and India ink illustrations are painterly with broad brushstrokes and thick black outlines, while the simple white background keeps the spotlight on the action. A wonderful choice for bedtime reading, this could also be a fun book for beginning readers to take turns sharing with their caregivers. This is a great addition to Halloween collections, as it focuses on the fun, rather than the fright, of the holiday.—Amy Seto Musser, Denver Public Library