LUCKY AND SQUASH

Two dogs living next door to each other become friends through the fence separating their backyards, successfully serving as matchmakers for their lonely owners, Miss Violet and Mr. Bernard.

Lucky is a Lhasa Apso, the braver of the two dogs, and Squash is a brainy Boston terrier. Together they repeatedly escape confinement in an effort to introduce their owners in hopes that a marriage will ensue and the canine pals can become brothers. In each successive escapade, they travel “for a day and a night,” leaving a trail of clues for their owners to find them. The dogs travel to the beach, to New York City and finally to a deliciously scary forest complete with vultures and a gigantic bear. The devoted owners always find their canine companions, and by the third escape attempt, the dogs have succeeded in bringing the human pair together. Charming watercolor illustrations have all the clever details that are Dyer’s signature touch, from tiny name tags on the dogs’ collars to Miss Violet’s lavender eyeglass frames. This gentle, entertaining story has elements of a traditional fairy tale in language and structure with a romantic wedding scene as the conclusion.

Good for dog lovers and romantics alike.