LARRY GETS LOST IN THE LIBRARY

Larry’s at it again.

Curious pup Larry is back again, having been lost in some 30 locales ranging from Boston to San Diego. His owner, Pete, is visiting his grandmother’s farm when the local library’s bookmobile arrives for a house call. There aren’t any books for Larry, but that doesn’t stop the inquisitive doggo from climbing aboard and taking an unintentional trip to the public library. Squeezing in through the book drop, Larry explores the building unobserved while the bookmobile driver searches for the lost dog. Eventually Larry is located and reunited with his family to rest after his busy day. The abcb rhyme scheme and strict meter of the text create a singsong effect when read aloud: “But then, with a click, / and as quick as a bark, / poor Larry has found / he’s alone in the dark. / The truck engine rumbles. / That pup’s in a bind. / He’s on an adventure / with Pete far behind.” The retro cartoon illustrations support the text with bold colors, but their crisp aesthetic and the on-the-nose nostalgic tinges give a soulless feel to the book, and Larry’s dead-eyed stare does not convey any doggy warmth. The story does give a cursory look at public libraries and the services they offer, but it’s hardly alone in this endeavor. Pete and his grandmother present White, and the bookmobile driver presents Black; library staff and patrons are diverse.

A lesser Larry adventure.