LaRUE FOR MAYOR

Giving fans even more reason to “Like Ike”—the dog, that is—Teague pits his irrepressible, letter-writing canine against “Law and Order” candidate Hugo Bugwort in a race for Mayor of Snort City. Expressing righteous indignation at Bugwort’s resolute anti-dog stance, Ike (figuratively) throws his hat into the ring, and proceeds to report back to his laid-up owner Mrs. LaRue on his “dignified,” issue-based campaign. The pictures tell a somewhat different story than the all-letters-and-news-items text, showing Ike and a gang of doggy buddies creating chaos at Bugwort’s public appearances, defacing his posters (“Vote Sniff Bugwort For A Strong Snort City Odor”), plastering the neighborhood with “LaRue” stickers and staging raids on hot dog carts and ice-cream trucks. In the end a bit of heroic behavior from Ike earns an about-face from Bugwort and an offer to be Assistant Mayor. But, as a final picture hints, the mischievous pooch’s political career may just be getting under way. Though less an election-year primer than a tale for dog lovers of every breed, this merits a spot alongside Doreen Cronin’s wickedly satiric Duck For President, illustrated by Betsy Lewin (2004) as a waggish take on the theme. (Picture book. 6-8)