LET'S HAVE A DOG PARTY

Kate and her friends throw a wild, loud birthday party for her dog, Frank, a calm canine who prefers peace and quiet.

Frank loves nothing better than sleeping in his special spot, on the rug in the warm sunlight streaming in the window. One day he is shocked by Kate and her four energetic friends, who seem to be playing at putting on a surprise birthday party (unsupervised by any adults). The raucous kids all talk loudly, tie balloons and bows onto the uncooperative dog, wrap up his bed and bowl as presents, and toss confetti with abandon as they chase the poor pooch. Frank runs away and hides in a closet until Kate comes to her senses and sends the other children home. She makes Frank a dogfood birthday cake, and, in a satisfying conclusion, the pair curl up for a nap in the dog’s favorite spot in the sunshine. Kids will get a kick out of the marauding, almost grotesque party participants, who are all illustrated with their mouths wide open (revealing tongues and uvulas) as they yell and sing for the overwhelmed dog, with large display type illustrating their increasingly louder words. The multimedia illustrations cleverly capture both the untamed atmosphere of the cavorting kids and the bewildered, overwhelmed dog. Kate has light skin and red hair; three of the other children have brown skin and black hair.

Empathy for others is currently a hot topic, skillfully and humorously explored here with a candid look at the feelings and preferences of someone without a voice.