SO YOU WANT A PUPPY?

The team of Howell and Pilicer (Greetings!, 2019, etc.) returns in this rhyming exploration of a boy welcoming a new puppy to the family.

When Daddy brings home a puppy, the narrator isn’t immediately sure what to make of him. But soon the pooch, named Murray, wiggles his way into the boy’s heart. Although the two become friends, the boy discusses how the puppy needs to learn the right set of behaviors. The narrator comforts Murray when he barks too much. And “When Grandma comes to visit, / He squirms and jumps ahead. / Time to teach him ‘No’ and ‘Down’, / Now Murray sits instead.” The boy walks Murray, tries to teach him to fetch, and convinces him that shoes are not suitable for chewing. In this picture book, Howell neatly blends the joys of having a dog and how loving the canine can be with the responsibilities of raising a puppy. The smooth rhymes scan well throughout, delivering puppy-raising suggestions that feel shared from a friend rather than strictly instructional. Pilicer’s gouache/digital cartoon images have painterly backgrounds; Murray stands out in the scenes as the only character drawn with heavy lines, which work well for the black-and-white pup. Though the narrator and his family are white, the illustrator includes friends and dog owners of different races and ethnicities. Pet tips at the end spell out the counsel introduced in the rhymes.

Dog-loving children will find excellent advice for puppy care in a poetic package.