MADE FOR EACH OTHER

An overview of the relationship between people and dogs.

Filled with full-color photos of children and dogs interacting (often adorable, but lacking adequate diversity; of 47 photos that include people, only nine feature people of color), this perkily designed book attempts a broad overview of the human-dog connection. Each of the book’s three parts addresses a specific topic. Part 1, “A Perfect Partnership” reiterates currently popular theories on how dogs evolved from prehistoric wolves to become domesticated by humans in prehistory as well as the development of specific dog behaviors and physical characteristics. Part 2, “The Science of Love,” relays select research conclusions about dogs’ intelligence and their emotional lives. Part 3, “Sharing Our Lives,” touches upon the collaboration between dogs and humans, whether it is for companionship, therapy, protection, or other reasons. (A double-page spread in this section, highlighting a specific doggie day care and a specific grooming salon in Montana has tenuous relevance to the theme.) Patent’s text burbles with liveliness, and the book is energetically designed with plenty of color, different-sized type, text bullets, and photographs, but the information is sometimes vague. Several sources are listed for young readers who are interested in learning more.

A smorgasbord of dog facts and tidbits whose distinguishing value may be to inspire interest in readers to research further.