Two Dogs

In Falconer's (Olivia) new picture book, Perry and Augie are matching dachshund housemates--lithe, hilarious, and terribly bored. Left alone inside all day, they squabble. Perry steals Augie's ball ("The ball was very important to Augie"); Augie gets revenge via piano ("PLEASE, AUGIE, NO! NOT THE PIANO!"), pounding the keys as black bars of music thunder across the page. Desperate for adventure, they break out into the garden. An afternoon of guilty pleasure unfolds, from rolling in raccoon poop to discovering a small hole to excavate: "Then they heard the car drive up." Falconer's spreads not only share the sly wit of his previous piglet heroine's exploits; they offer beauty, too, in classically drawn forms ("Indeed, they look like little Roman emperors," the opening sequence observes) as the dogs romp across crisp, full-color backgrounds of grass and greenery in an exuberant display of canine choreography. The artist's insight into the inner lives of dogs ("Hurl yourself at the door and bark!") and gift for capturing their characteristic movements tick all the visual storytelling boxes, making this dachshund's-day-out story a delight. Ages 4-8. Agent: Conrad Rippy, Levine Plotkin & Menin. (June)