DREW'S BIG VACATION

A shy, spotted canine makes new friends on vacation in this animal-focused picture book.

Drew, a hairless Chinese crested dog, is so nervous about going on a family vacation with his White humans that he hides under the bedsheets. “I’ve got spotty skin and tufts of hair here and there. / What if they laugh? What if they stare?” he laments. But soon, his worries prove unfounded; the pilots on the plane want to meet him, and an alligator, pelican, octopus, and manatee all welcome Drew to Florida. Though the animals are initially curious about Drew’s looks, they all become fast friends. And when it’s time to form a team for a sand castle competition, Drew knows just who to invite. By giving Drew amiable new friends who show both curiosity and respect for his strange looks, Zakzanis sets up a narrative in which the canine can become a leader, urging his pals to do their best. The rhyming couplets, accessible vocabulary words, and clues in Lemaire’s pastel-hued illustrations provide context for unfamiliar terms (lounging, scheme). Though the couplets are occasionally uneven, the rhymes ably guide the rhythm. The kid-friendly, mixed-media images, which combine strong linework and painterly colors, are a huge draw, and lap readers will want to page through the illustrations on their own. With low stakes and friendly faces, this entertaining tale of a dog overcoming his fears about his distinctive looks may provide comfort to shy readers.

A cool summer beach read for kids.