I, TRIXIE WHO IS DOG

It’s a dog’s world in this canine fantasy. Trixie Koontz, an exuberant golden retriever, takes a look at all things not-dog, because not everyone can be a dog. “Some must be people, / to feed all good dogs. / People to pet dogs, / people to scratch, / to chase and play catch.” Using uneven rhyme, Trixie explains how people, cats (who make dogs laugh), birds (who make dogs dream of flying), cows (ice cream, naturally!), sheep (for herding and sweaters) and skunks (“but I don’t know why”) can serve to make dogs’ lives better. The story, such as it is, falls apart when Trixie wanders off this course midway to extol the joys of canine life. Cleland’s black-outlined watercolors are filled with hilarious details that enliven an otherwise overlong text. Complicated words like caterwauling and catapulting combine with the unpredictable rhyme scheme to make this a difficult book to read aloud or, for new readers, even dedicated dog lovers, to manage independently. A funny idea taken too far. (Picture book. 3-8)