I'M THE BEST!

Dudley has had many owners (one gave him away for eating a plant; one moved; one died) and many names; now he's chosen as successor to another dog, one that died. The family's nice, but they still miss Fritz; Dudley's willing to try, but he has some bad habits. With a little give and take, it works out. The parallel to the plight of many children adds depth here, while Hillenbrand's robust yet empathetic illustrations make this unusually attractive. Comical and heartwarming. (Picture book. 4- 8)