THE LATCHKEY DOG

The title doesn't really fit this tale of a boy and his dog, but it's a cute, marketable moniker for much ado about nothing. Amber is Sam's best friend, but with Sam's divorced mother newly employed outside the home, the dog is alone all day, disturbing the peace. Sam's mother wants to give Amber away; Sam is full of alternative ideas. Most of these fail, but ultimately the boy enlists the aid of a neighbor whose home office will be Amber's daytime hang-out; after school, Sam and Amber ``volunteer'' at his sister Maxie's daycare center. Smith's delightful b&w illustrations add appeal. A book that's slight, but fast-paced; farfetched overall, but alive with realistic, kid-pleasing antics. (Fiction. 7-10)