Puppy, Puppy, Puppy

Toddler-PreS—Puppy and Baby are best friends who do everything together, from eating to playing to sleeping—with predictably unruly results. The two can't be parted for long, even when Baby's parents declare that it's time for a nap. Sternberg's text is simple and repetitive, perfect for a young audience, and the contrast between words (for instance, "Baby enjoys breakfast, and Puppy enjoys breakfast.") and images (Baby in a high chair, spattered with food, with an overturned bowl on an equally messy Puppy's head) will elicit plenty of giggles. Relying on thick black lines, the digitally rendered illustrations have a soft, gentle feel. While Koehler's portrayal of a suburban household is soothing and sweet, there are enough lively scenes to entice rambunctious toddlers. Baby and Puppy are a fetching duo: the infant (of indeterminate gender) is round-headed and appealingly chubby, while the little dog is a scruffy, stubby-tailed ball of energy. The book portrays a loving, multiethnic family: Dad is white, and Mom and Baby are brown.