Dog vs. Strawberry

The previous collaborators (Cat Dog Dog) reteam for this enthusiastic love letter to instantly recognizable canine behavior that's wrapped in a laugh-out-loud sportscast spoof. Dog has been given a plump red strawberry treat by her human, who's portrayed with brown skin and seen only from the waist down. A breathless, unseen narrator materializes ("Welcome to the greatest race of all time!") as Dog launches a battle of wills with the fruit, immediately zooming away from Strawberry and tearing around the house in what Buchet's narrator proclaims is "a strong start," while Strawberry's lack of movement is deemed "gorgeous focus." Even if young readers don't get all of the heightened language, it makes for a hilarious counterpoint to the comically destructive action unfolding in ink and digitally colored illustrations. As Dog displays "incredible moves.... Unbelievable" and even goes down for a nap, it's clear that Zuill has unleashed her considerable talents to great effect, creating a cinematic sense of silliness and a winning protagonist whose roly-poly physique, boopable snout, and operatic eyes convey equal parts cunning competitor and genial goofball. Ages 4-8. Agent (for author and illustrator): Erzsi Deak, Hen&ink Literary. (Apr.)

PreS-Gr 3—Readers, start your engines! When an excitable pup decides that racing a strawberry might be even more fun than eating one, action ensues. This picture book comes roaring off the page narrated with pitch-perfect sportscaster gravitas. Thrill to the sight of an imaginative dog who is convinced that the strawberry (generously described as "impassive") is gaining on her! Flinch as the dog proceeds to mow down everything in her path! A love letter to the canine phenomenon sometimes referred to as "the zoomies," Buchet's book is short and thrilling enough to suit a preschool story hour, but would also make a crowd-pleasing read-aloud for early elementary classrooms. The author has nailed the dramatic tone of televised sports while the accompanying visuals, fabulous ink drawings, manage to be rich yet spare, pleasantly wonky, enhancing but never distracting from the content. The lean text features some impressive vocabulary that makes this book stand out. The dog, a sausage-y mutt, displays a wide range of emotions and postures, from proud to befuddled to tuckered out. Her rambunctious, oblivious sweetness permeates every page; children will root for her victory or at least her shot at a nap. VERDICT Everyone's a winner in this fast-paced match between canine and fruit, recommended for both public and school libraries.—Kate Newcombe