Snow Dog, Sand Dog

K-Gr 2—Ally's allergies prevent her from having the real dog she desires, so she uses her imagination to create substitutes through the seasons of the year. In winter, when other children make snowmen, she makes a snow dog. In spring, when other children pick flowers, she makes a flower dog. In summer, she makes a sand dog, and in fall, a leaf dog. Each time, the others laugh at her, but her creations always follow her home. They play together through the season until her pet fades, and she draws pictures of her new unique canine friends until the cycle starts again. The cartoon illustrations have childlike lines that show the world as Ally would imagine and draw it, and the book concludes with instructions for making "A Dog Without Snow" from cardboard. While the book's overarching tone shows a triumph of spirit over circumstance, a note of loneliness and isolation permeates the story throughout.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA