THE VERY KIND RICH LADY AND HER ONE HUNDRED DOGS

The “very kind” lady in this story is modeled after an actual canine philanthropist whom the author/illustrator met in her native Taiwan. In her first effort, Lee has crafted a sweetly simple tale that doesn’t have (or need) much plot, but which does identify all 100 dogs by name, from a big Irish wolfhound named Papa to a little puppy named Bingo, the last-but-not-least who is always trailing behind. Each dog is named individually (and counted in groups) over several double-page spreads, creating exactly the sort of beloved bedtime book that some children latch onto with a passion (and that some parents might resist reading for the 100th time). The elegant woman in the story devotes herself to her dogs, playing with them, feeding them, grooming them, and watching over them at night as they settle down safely on their own pillows and blankets in her large bedroom. Near the end, the kind lady calls all 100 dogs by name, and surely lots of dogged preschoolers will require every one of those names read in order every time the book is read. Lee’s playful, child-like illustrations in watercolor, pencil, and ink bring all the delightfully different doggies to life, and there’s even a special-needs dog with a wheeled cart to help him get around. Creative teachers in the early grades will use this book for counting or “100th day of school” activities, and of course it’s a natural to pair with Gag’s Millions of Cats. (Picture book. 3-7)