SASHA AND HIS RED LEASH

Author Lapid and illustrator Pasek launch a new rhyming picture-book series starring a playful puppy who wants to roam free.

Sasha, a small white canine, knows he’s “a very lucky pup,” but he hates his awful red leash, which he’s hidden and buried in the past. Sasha discusses it with his brown-skinned young owner, “Big Boss Bob,” who explains that the leash keeps Sasha safe. They visualize various hypothetical situations, and Lapid allows readers to weigh in on whether each one would require a leash. Finally, Sasha realizes the tether’s importance even if he still wishes for total freedom. Lapid and Pasek have already written two series together—the Snowman Paul books and the Yara’s Rainforest books—and Sasha has the same playfulness and verve as their previous protagonists. Pasek’s painterly illustrations mingle cartoonish and realistic features, always showing Sasha behaving like a real-life dog. Lapid’s simple, rhyming text offers few words on most pages, making the book very approachable for beginners, who will get the most out of the images of safe and unsafe situations. The book may also give parents a way to introduce discussions about why some human rules are required to keep children safe.

A book featuring a charismatic pooch and a likable owner that's sure to attract young readers.