JOAN IN THE CONE

“Some days you find every last hidden bone! / And some days you’re stuck in the cone.”

A philosophical streak runs through this tale, written in second person and centered on Joan, a happy-go-lucky, floppy-eared brown pup with a spot on one eye. Most days the pooch plays with Louise (Joan’s young owner) or the cat or a group of other dogs who meet in the park. Most days are great fun…but one day, Joan sees “a glorious thing” up on a table: Louise’s birthday cake. The pup climbs on a chair to get closer. Yum! It’s the best taste ever. Joan’s practically floating on air—until the little dog falls. Outfitted in a cast and a cone, Joan’s sure that “the good days are through.” But an unexpected discovery in the toy bin perks Joan up—a rubber ducky stolen from Louise ages ago. Louise is thrilled when Joan returns the toy, so Joan digs up plenty of other treasures that once belonged to other members of the household, returns them all, and feels much better. “Some days are wonderful—in a NEW way, / With new tricks to try, / And new games to play.” This rhyming tale zeroes in on delightful details that will be familiar to any dog lover, though youngsters will find many parallels to their own lives. Tahboub’s digitally created illustrations are dynamic, expressive, and funny. Joan’s family is light-skinned.

An appealing puppy-centric parable.