LADY MISS PENNY

A golden-brown dog named Lady Miss Penny narrates this story about proper behavior when eating out in a restaurant.

Penny lives in a city with her owner, a girl the dog calls Milady, and the pair enjoy pleasant dining experiences at a variety of restaurants. Penny’s group of friends includes two other dogs, a rabbit, and a pigeon, and these friends join Penny and Milady at a white-tablecloth restaurant for a special meal. Penny describes how to behave through a numbered list of rules with related explanations. Each rule is illustrated with the group of animals either following the recommendation or behaving in opposite fashion, like running between tables or barking and meowing while chewing. At the end of the meal the group prances out the door, leaving the restaurant a mess, with the table overturned and food everywhere. The animals, however, did follow the final rule: “Do have a good time!” The tongue-in-cheek humor is mildly humorous but its use as an etiquette guide falls rather flat as the misbehavior looks far more enjoyable than the prescriptions for proper behavior. Charming watercolor illustrations elevate the whole, with appealing animals and a likable Milady. She has brown skin and a dark brown ponytail; other guests in the restaurant include people of color.

Amusing animal antics but not really useful for young human restaurant guests.