Good Dog

Review By CAROLYN M. MULLIN

We can only speculate as to how dogs think and reason, but I find Maya Gottfried’s poetic interpretations to be rather spot on. Covering 16 canine breeds from Springer spaniels to mutts, Robert Rahway Zakanitch’s beautiful full-page portraits – when set to Gottfried’s free verse poems – really capture the personality of each pooch. For the chow, we read: “Listen up! It’s time to go. / Get the leash. Let’s hit the road. / I’ve got a bone to pick with a Chihuahua. / And there’s a coupla dachshunds that need a barking-to.”

The text is simple enough for kids to read on their own, but challenging little ones to use different voices for each canine character would be a fun activity. Perhaps a high pitched, whiney voice for the pomeranian who just got a powder puff-looking haircut? Or a deep, gruff tone for the bulldog who just wants a “hug and a bone.”

Personally, I’d keep this on the coffee table too as even adults and visiting company would get a kick out of the humorous writings and entertaining visuals.

Ages 4-8.