TURTLE IN A TREE

Two dogs speculate about the unseen creature they hear in a tree—which is right?

A greyhound in a yellow-and-orange sweater hears a “rustle rustle” and stops to investigate. Noticing the larger dog staring at a tree, a French bulldog in a purple necktie asks, “What do you see?” The greyhound responds, matter-of-factly, “A turtle in a tree.” Baffled, the bulldog explains that such a thing would be “impossible” and then opines, “It must be a squirrel.” The two continue to debate, each presenting the other with evidence to support their claim. Soon, the friendly banter turns aggressive—and, consequently, the type grows larger with each page turn—as neither dog budges. Though the surprise ending resolves the mystery once and for all, an Australian shepherd arrives to start a similar conversation all over again. Hudson’s author/illustrator debut is a funny and insightful look at perspective-taking. Readers never see what the dogs see in the tree until the end, smartly inviting them to imagine alongside the characters. Silent bird side characters provide comedic relief throughout. The soft art—with spare but colorful details and plenty of white space—adds a dreamlike quality. Aside from a few sound effects, the narrative is conveyed through dialogue contained in color-coded speech bubbles. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 37% of actual size.)

Worth a look—and a head scratch or two.