POLICEMAN LOU AND POLICEWOMAN SUE

Between shared breakfast and dinner, a pair of uniformed police officers minds a small-town beat in this wooden, sexist companion to the much superior Dot the Fire Dog (2001). As Lou greets shop owners, drives the squad car, and nabs a purse-snatcher, Sue takes a stint as school-crossing guard, writes a parking ticket—“ ‘Must not be from around here,’ says Lou. ‘There would be no place for the fire truck to park.’ ‘It’s not safe,’ says Sue’ ”—comforts the briefly purseless victim, and at day’s end, cooks dinner for her partner. Their firearms and other equipment no more than indistinct, abstract shapes, the two pose with faces generally as stiff as the dialogue in static, preternaturally neat neighborhood settings. Despite good intentions, a popular topic, and a closing page of vague safety tips (“When you need help, talk to a trusted adult or a friend”), this clunker will neither engage child readers nor inform them. (Picture book. 5-7)