BIG DOG, LITTLE DOG

The fortunes of a pampered pooch are overturned when a newcomer arrives.

His guardian’s only pet, Big Dog leads a sweet life. Big Dog walks his owner, blithely ignores commands, and displays affection at every opportunity. Yep, life’s good, albeit—Big Dog admits—lonely sometimes, and days can seem really long. One day, the pair encounter an owner with a diminutive pup. For Big Dog, life takes a decidedly lousy turn when the humans spend more time with each other and eventually move in together, the little pup naturally joining the household. But Little Dog doesn’t fit in: He’s slow and doesn’t heed commands. Jealous of the cute new family member, Big Dog decides it’s time for Little Dog to go and proceeds with a nefarious plot to expose him as a messy troublemaker. When a load of doggy-doo is found on the rug, the fed-up humans—wise to Big Dog’s chicanery—banish him outdoors. But what’s this? Little Dog won’t sleep without Big Dog beside him—and soon Little Dog learns to “obey” commands as well as his bigger sib does. Best of all, days don’t seem long anymore. This good-natured, simply told Australian import treads very familiar ground, but it will particularly resonate with children grappling with feelings of displacement at, say, a new sibling’s arrival. The colorful illustrations are energetic, with Big Dog especially expressive. Big Dog’s owner is White, while Little Dog’s owner is brown-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Sweet, reassuring fun, especially for dog lovers.