Liesbet Slegers (The Child in the Manger) creates a puppy manual for preschoolers with this lighthearted, durable addition to the Kevin & Katie series. Rounded corners and laminated pages makes this just right for first-time pet owners.
Kevin holds up a picture of a puppy next to a calendar with the date circled for his puppy pick-up ("when he'll be old enough to come live with us"). He ticks off the items that he and his mother have purchased in preparation (food and water bowls, a collar and leash and lots of toys). "Finally it's puppy day!" says Kevin, who names his dog Ruff. Slegers lets youngsters know what to expect through Kevin's running commentary. Ruff sniffs his new surroundings ("Ruff is curious and wants to get to know everything"), and heads to the vet with Kevin and his mother. The boy also models patience when the pup has an accident ("Ruff doesn't know exactly how it's done yet, but we're going to teach him").
Slegers shows boy and dog in thick black outline and popsicle-bright illustrations. The two appear together in every picture--except for the one in which Ruff eats from his bowl, which emphasizes the safety precaution, "the vet said dogs don't like it when you pet them while they're eating." The author-artist balances out images of responsibility (giving Ruff a bath) with the joys of ownership (playing fetch). A great way to prepare for a new (furry) addition. --Jennifer M. Brown, children's editor, Shelf Awareness