PING WANTS TO PLAY

Ping and Pong are canine companions who demonstrate caring cooperation in this pleasant, predictable story for emergent readers.

Ping is a perky hound dog with floppy, brown ears and a friendly expression. She lives in a suburban backyard in a red doghouse with a matching red food bowl. Pong is a tan, male bulldog with a grumpy look living in a yellow doghouse right next to Ping’s red one. While Ping is playful, Pong is more sedate, preferring naps to active play. During Pong’s nap, Ping puts on a red cape, transforming into Super-Ping. She hops on a minitrampoline, trying to fly, but ends up stuck on top of Pong’s doghouse. Her friend kindly rescues his pal by letting her climb down on his back. The plot is conveyed in simple, short sentences set in large type suited to new readers, with thoughtful clues in the illustrations and patterned text to aid in comprehension. A large trim size and cheerful, cartoon-style illustrations make this a satisfying choice for beginning readers, as well a quick read-aloud for preschoolers.

This playful story offers plenty of support to new readers.