THE BEST FLOWER EVER!

A pup takes pride in a flower until others show up with better ones.

Decked out in a plaid bandanna, a spotted dog happily holds up a tiny potted daisy. “Would you like to see my beautiful little flower?” A Chihuahua yaps that it is lovely but then brings out a great big sunflower. The original pup droops. “That is…humungous.” Desperate for validation, the dog asks a passing hound, “Doesn’t it smell lovely?! Please tell me how lovely it smells!” The hound agrees but then brings out some lavender. Everyone swoons. More and more pups come, each proclaiming the attributes of their flowers (one even says, “My flower potty trained the cat!”). (All the canines pause in consternation.) In spare text, broken into color-coded speech bubbles, Hudson deftly explores the feelings of jealousy and frustration that often ensue when we compare ourselves to others. Luckily, these doggo pals come together in the end, realizing each flower is special in its own—helpful—way. The anthropomorphic dogs cut hilarious figures in the watercolor-and–colored pencil artwork; a poodle with an oversized hairdo and a bespectacled Great Dane are especially fun additions. There is also a subplot to be discovered in the illustrations; follow the antics of the frog and two birds for extra chuckles. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A gentle reminder that there are more important things than aspiring to being the best.