Dog vs. Ultra Dog

"Tuffy loved Tim. And Tim loved Tuffy." Nothing stands in the way of the bond between Tuffy the dog and Tim the boy--until Tim discovers superhero Ultra Dog ("the ultra-est dog in the universe!" ) and becomes Ultra Dog's "ultra-est" fan as he prepares to visit his idol at Ultra Land. Terrified of losing Tim and goaded on by the cat next door, Tuffy decides to do everything in his power to keep Tim from loving Ultra Dog more. His plans range from being "the ultra-est at obedience" to "the ultra-est at chores," but he remains fearful. With only two weeks before Tim's trip, Tuffy decides on a last resort: the hound dons not one but two Ultra Dog capes and tries to fly off the second floor. Wilson (Perfect Man) and Hammer (making his picture-book debut) create a humorous comics-style story featuring bold illustrations and amusing pop-culture references (a poster in Tim's room reads, "To the Dog Star and Beyond!"). Along with the laughs, the tale assures that Tuffy doesn't need to be ultra-anything, just himself, in order to be loved. Ages 4-7. (Apr.)