THE HOWLING DOG

Feeling lonely after she's tied out for the night, a dog breaks her tether and barks through the village, waking neighbors, their children, and their farm animals until she finally has enough company and everyone can go back to sleep. Only a slight exaggeration of a plausible real-life event but, here, a lot more amusing—especially as depicted in Pearson's sharply observed illustrations with their cozy New England setting. (Picture book. 2-7)