FRANKIE

A young new dog in the house gets a cold reception from the old one.

Though not quite as laconic as the author’s one-word Ball (2013) and Treat (2016), the narrative is composed entirely of terse exclamations in dialogue balloons over sparsely detailed views of glowering Nico as the stout little black dog snatches its “stuff” away from frisky newcomer Frankie. Lifted from a cage at the beginning by a pair of light-skinned human hands and taken for a ride before being plunked down in front of Nico, Frankie uncertainly tests his new surroundings: “Frankie’s home?” “Frankie’s ball?” “Frankie’s blankie.” Nico begs to differ: “Nico’s home.” “No. Nico’s ball.” “No way! Nico’s blankie!” Frankie is sad (“No bone. No ball. No nothing”), but hardly has the small black-and-white pup begun claiming a small stash of ragged bric-a-brac than an offstage summons leads to the joyful discovery of a brand new doggie bed and a whole set of dog toys for Frankie. They stay Frankie’s, too, even after Frankie magnanimously lets Nico chew on a frog—in exchange for a turn with “Nico’s ball!” Both dogs are small, of indeterminate breed, and eloquent of body language.

Two-legged pups with new sibs would likely have a similar experience.