CONE DOG

Will Emma survive the dreaded cone?

When Emma, a fluffy poodle, leaves the vet with her human, there’s a funny, clear lampshade around her neck. At first, she assumes she’s just caught in something (like that unfortunate incident with the lawn chair). But this time she can’t get the offending object off. Emma tries “to wreck it (she was the best at wrecking).” But the cone stays on. Her human tells her that the cone is “for her own good”…but it gets in the way when she tries to walk or dig. Emma sulks. Then she realizes that playing catch is far easier this way—the cone can hold all the balls her owner tosses. She finds a new way to dig, and the cone acts as a helmet when she tumbles down the stairs. The cone isn’t so bad…but she still has one problem: Keith, a cheeky squirrel who loves to tease her. Emma wishes she could give him a good scare. Turns out with a little patience, some snow, and, of course, her cone, she can do just that! Howden and Mok team up for a companion to their Cone Cat (2020) to show how a canine companion might deal with a cone. Emma’s personality comes through in Howden’s simple, tongue-in-cheek text and in Mok’s hilarious cartoon illustrations. Emma’s pale-skinned human is never named, but the two obviously care for each other. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Doggy devotees will enjoy this tale of a pooch finding the silver lining in a seemingly dire situation.