THE GREAT DOG WASH

Short, rhyming text, bold but simple illustrations and a pack of cheerful canines add up to a winning dog tale that is simple enough for younger preschoolers who are just starting to enjoy their first stories with a complete plot. An enterprising group of children organizes the doggie-bathing project using a washtub and hose, a method that works well until a cat strolls into the scene, causing a ruckus, as the soapy pooches follow the cat to a nearby tree. The clever kids adjust to the circumstances, moving their washing operation to a new site under the tree, where they shampoo and rinse the dogs as a pack. Neubecker uses a jazzy palette of olive green, strawberry and banana yellow for his cartoon-style illustrations, with thick, black outlines and lots of water drips and shampoo bubbles flying across the pages. The dogs are an amiable bunch, thoroughly enjoying their new hairdos, bows and bandanas, and the multiethnic group of children is a confidence-inspiring creative group whose know-how and adaptability give them something both fun and worthwhile to do on a warm summer day. (Picture book. 2-6)