The Smell of Wet Dog: And Other Dog Poems and Drawings

Gr 1-4–Prolific author and illustrator Saltzberg is back with a collection of 27 short, zippy poems about dogs. Saltzberg touches on some of the hallmarks of a canine life, including the rhythmic thump of a tail, the unfettered joy of playing catch, and, as the title suggests, the distinctive “moose and skunk perfume” of a wet dog. The poems take on a more contemplative quality as the book progresses; “Slowing Down” plainly reflects on the changes evinced by an aging pet, deciding that, in the end, a slowing-down dog means one with more time for cuddles. Each poem is accompanied by one of Saltzberg’s delightfully jaunty sketches of scruffy mutts, their eyes keen and curious, fur often askew. The illustrations are rendered in a realistic palette, with lots of browns and blacks, and the generous use of negative space makes them pop. Young readers may relate to the challenges of their four-legged friends, as in “Sit and Stay,” where a dog bemoans the standards of acceptable behavior: “It’s hard to sit./ It’s hard to stay./ Who makes these rules up, anyway?” This slim volume would be a good book to have on hand for National Poetry Month.