THE BIG DEAL
by Alison Cragin Herzig & illustrated by Scott Gladden
An uncomplicated story about a short fourth- grader who is too slight to control his big dog. Wally—who has already flunked obedience school- -will have to go back to the farm if Sam can't teach him to behave on a leash. The comic denouement occurs when Wally crashes through a garden wedding in pursuit of his ladylove, a Mexican hairless, and Sam's two best friends help get Wally back. In exchange for their future services as dog-walkers, Sam offers to coach one in math and play basketball every day with the other. Pleasant, undemanding fare with lots of dialogue and a comforting message about brains vs. brawn. Illustrations not seen. (Fiction. 7- 10)