Sally Goes to the Farm

We would follow Stephen Huneck's black Labrador, Sally, anywhere--to the beach, to the mountains, and certainly to the farm. The Sally books are wonderfully witty glimpses into the simple psyche of a dog, where exciting new smells and tastes reign supreme. Sally first meets the golden Lab Molly, and after a comical round of introductory sniffing, her new friend proceeds to introduce her to Bessie the cow, who squirts them with milk. The doggy duo then eats like pigs, horses around, plows a field, and narrowly escapes a goosing. Each oversized illustration explodes with generous, boldly colored woodcut prints, as Huneck artfully captures the gorgeous striped geometry of farmland and fences--along with amusing canine antics. Simple sentences in a large clear font (designed by the artist himself) ensure smooth sailing and happy endings for early readers, but adults will enjoy the dry humor of these books just as much as kids will. (Ages 2 to 6) --Karin Snelson