HANK'S NEW PACK

A fun-loving pooch has a very tough first day at doggie daycare in Shepardson’s middle-grade chapter book.

If Hank had his way, he’d spend all day every day with his “favorite little human.” But Paisy is starting kindergarten, and she and “Hu-Mom” don’t want Hank to be home alone. So, the next day, his humans leave him at Canines Unleashed, a doggie daycare. As Hank tries to make friends, he quickly learns that some of his typical behavior, like jumping when excited, is a big no-no at this place, and that breaking the rules could land him in a special training class or even doggie jail. As if that weren’t bad enough, one of the daycare regulars, Fred, isn’t a Hank fan; he goes out of his way to get Hank in trouble or steal his food. It’s a whole new experience at daycare, getting used to different nap times and learning when not to howl; Hank just wants to make it through the day so he can go home to Paisy. Shepardson’s fetching tale shows the importance of pet training: Hank is a gentle, loving dog, but he doesn’t know or abide by certain commands, which can be a real problem out in public. Fred is an effective antagonist, and Luna the Portie makes a superb counterpart—a potential new friend who’s there to support and comfort Hank. The four-legged hero has a big heart; despite his bad day, he constantly thinks about Paisy and hopes that her first day at school is going better than his. The author loads the pages with waggish, canine-relevant wordplay, like “pawsome,” “fur-ever,” and things that are simply “BARK-TASTIC.” Kwong’s black-and-white artwork enlivens the text, highlighting Hank’s best moments playing with toys or being happily covered in suds.

This witty story of friendship and dogged determination will appeal to young and adult readers alike.