GRUMPY GLORIA

A disgruntled bulldog provides fodder for a seriously funny tale from Dewdney. When a new doll replaces Gloria in a young friend’s affections, a real sulk ensues. The other children soon attempt the Herculean task of bringing the petulant canine around. However, how to please a peevish pup becomes the question of the day. Tantalizing toys, bubble baths and invigorating jogs all fail to please Gloria. Dewdney wields her comic touch with consummate ease, using jaunty rhymes filled with wordplay to engage young readers. All ends well for the long-suffering Gloria, who is happily reunited with her friend by story’s end. The vibrancy of the full-color illustrations serves to capture the reader’s attention, while Gloria’s woeful expressions are hilarious. Gloria has personality to spare, and her appealingly irascible demeanor earns her a place on the shelf alongside other favored pooches. Bound to be a read-aloud favorite. (Picture book. 3-6)