100 QUESTIONS ABOUT DOGS

Here’s the source for “fantastic facts & doggy data,” according to the cover tagline.

Smiling cartoon dogs and diverse humans cavort across brightly colored pages, providing a backdrop to myriad bits of dog information. This is a useful work for readers who’d like to: learn how early humans befriended the wolf ancestors of today’s pets; acquire a smattering of information on various breeds and how they were developed; read about a variety of dog record holders (like the pooch with the longest tongue, for instance); or find out more about ways that dogs serve people across the world. Just as the pages are varied, so are the depth and organization of the information. There is no index, nor a table of contents, so this is not the resource for any kind of simple research. It’s more an inviting smorgasbord of all things doggy. The last section is focused on what readers should know before becoming owners of dogs, including a useful recommendation to check in with local animal shelters. A list of equipment needed by dog owners to care for their pups is also included. Information is accurate and up to date, but some pages suffer from poor contrast between black type and deep background colors that may distract young readers. A companion title for cat lovers provides a very similar experience.

An entertaining if not altogether direct romp through the doggy world.