LITTLE DOG POEMS

These agreeable poems from George (Old Elm Speaks, 1998, etc.) chronicle a day in the life of a little dog doing little dog things. After the obligatory cold nose wakes the dog’s young keeper, the dog duels the vacuum cleaner, surveys the territory from the window, gives the letter carrier notice, curls like a watch spring into a spot of sunlight, snoozes, duels with a beetle, makes a mess, tears things apart, serves and protects. Otani has made the dog a playful terrier type—all vim and vinegar—although the rest of the artwork is attractively delicate. George plays with words with a sure hand; just as surely, Otani picks up on their expressive qualities, e.g., showing the bedraggled pup in “Bath,” “Dripping and soggy,/Little Dog/really is/little.” A charming glimpse of life with a small dog, and its small but satisfying pleasures. (Picture book/poetry. 4-8)