I Am Puppy Hear Me Yap: The Ages of Dog

From the pugnacious pup on the cover to the sad-eyed sweetie hiding on the back side, I Am Puppy, Hear Me Yap is a book guaranteed to melt the heart of even the grimmest Cruella de Vil impersonator. Valerie Shaff's photography showcases our four-legged friends in many of their finest moments--chewing on slippers, rolling in the clover, and shaking the water off their fuzzy puppy fur are just a few of the classics captured here. With the combination of close-up shots and gentle sepia-toned images, the unique details of each pup's face are shown to advantage. From sleepy newborn retrievers to sophisticated poodles, personality shines through in these portraits. You're sure to at least entertain the thought of inviting a new canine companion into your life. The poetry of Roy Blount Jr. is the perfect companion to such delightful photos; in every case, the master wordsmith manages to sum up the emotion in the picture in just a line or two, as in the photo of two snuggling pups paired with

Each small sigh serves to reiterate
Nobody fits quite like a littermate.

With pieces like that, it's clear that Blount enjoyed creating his rhymes as much as we enjoy reading them. The pintsized beast from the cover makes another appearance inside the pages, this time next to a poem that begins with the title of the book:

I am puppy, hear me yap
No, I won't sit in your lap
I've got other things to do
For instance, bark at you.

Whether you prefer pooches sweet and cuddly or fiercely attacking your ankle, this lovely little book is sure to show you the doggie of your dreams. --Jill Lightner