RUGGLES
by Anne Fine & illustrated by Ruth Brown
The spirit of Harry the Dirty Dog lives on in this tribute to an old pooch with an unquenchable urge to roam. Give Ruggles an open door or gate, a pile of papers next to the fence, or any other opportunity to scoot, however brief, and he’s off—to appreciate the beauty of a spring day, meet friendly neighbors in the park in the summer, get a handout from the local bakery in autumn, or roll delightedly in the snow. He always comes home, sooner or later—sometimes to a scolding, but, “After all, you can’t please everyone. We all know that.” Ruggles tells his tale with breezy assurance; Brown portrays him as a shaggy mutt in a placid, familiar, dog’s-eye-level world. Like the seasoned traveler he is, Ruggles settles down before the fireplace when the weather turns too harsh, promising himself new outings next spring. Readers will want to go with him. (Picture book. 6-8)