TALK, OSCAR, PLEASE!

Oscar is a friendly pup who can make lots of noises: yips and howls, barks and growls, whimpers and wheezes. Unfortunately, though, he can’t talk. But what if he could? In this jovial, straightforward story in verse, a boy asks his dog to learn how to speak (“It sure would be great if you’d talk, Oscar—please?”) and imagines how much better life would be as a result. The bright, rounded illustrations show Oscar in his potential roles as student, coach, hiker, playground partner, telephone user and game-show contestant, while the text fills in comic details about the fun the two could have together, rhyming all the way. Bowers clearly has a good time with these scenarios. Oscar sits on a stack of books at a desk, earnestly studying his ABCs; Oscar gestures confidently with a pointer at a poster about fleas at the vet’s office. While the boy realizes his dream is unlikely, he isn’t really bothered. Oscar is his best friend, after all, so even though others may not understand, he feels he knows what Oscar is saying. An enjoyable selection, this will doubtlessly appeal to any child with a passion for dogs. Though the rhymes are at times a little forced, the message of a boy’s love for and kinship with his dog speaks for itself. (Picture book. 4-7)