Unlovable (Owlet Book)

When Alfred, a supposedly unlovable pug (or so the cat tells him) meets a new neighbor dog through the solid fence, he can't help himself: "My name is Alfred," he says. "I'm a golden retriever." As long as he can keep the fence between himself and Rex, Alfred is relaxed enough to get to know his new buddy. They share many likes (sleeping in the sun, dog food, and scratching) and dislikes (baths and the vet), and spend hours chatting. But then one day Rex decides to dig a hole under the fence so he can come over to Alfred's side. It's the moment of truth--will Rex find Alfred unlovable when he sees him face to face?

Dan Yaccarino's story about real friendship (and the danger of shaky self esteem) will strike a chord with anyone who has ever told a teeny tiny white lie (or a whopper) on the playground just to boost his or her image a bit. Alfred suffers from a common malady: he believes anything others tell him. But on the final page, readers will rejoice to see Alfred and his pal Rex peeking mischievously over the windowsill at the naughty cat, who is obviously flustered to see that her victim isn't going to take it any more. Yaccarino (illustrator of Circle Dogs, by Kevin Henkes, I Love Going Through This Book, by Robert Burleigh, and many others), whose stylized gouache on watercolor paper illustrations are recognizable a mile away, manages to make this pug positively lovable despite what any feline might say. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter