WAGGLE

McMenemy mixes broad strokes of paint with big pieces of torn paper in a debut that seems to wiggle with the same enthusiasm as the tail of the puppy-from-hell she portrays. With a delighted Rosie chasing—sometimes far—behind, the pup her Dad brings home excitedly heads straight for shoes and wastepaper basket, races outside to dig up flowers and to gambol in mud, and then dashes back inside over the bed and into a closet. “What do you think we should call him?” Dad asks. Rosie doesn’t take long to decide (see title), and is last seen receiving a slurp of approval from the new family member. The art is all big, bright, simple shapes against vibrant monochromatic backgrounds, with just a few details sketched in; Rosie and her father never lose their fond smiles (Mom perhaps wisely, is absent), and young readers, too will instantly adore this doggy dynamo. (Picture book. 6-8)