When the Big Dog Barks

From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 1. This book doesn't really tell a story?the words and pictures merely chronicle an appealing little girl's many fears (of dogs, the dark, strangers, thunder, etc.) and the way her parents protect and reassure her, mostly through physical contact. There is little or no effort made to help her overcome her fears, as in Patricia Polacco's Thunder Cake (Philomel, 1990) or Rebecca Jones's The Biggest, Meanest, Ugliest Dog in the Whole Wide World (Macmillan, 1982; o.p.), which makes for a very static reading or listening experience. The narrative ends simply, "'We'll keep you safe' my mama says. And I know they do." This might possibly be useful in helping preschoolers talk about their fears although the child looks more like a five or six year old. The colored-pencil illustrations done predominantly in shades of orange and purple are interestingly juxtaposed against a mostly white background and beautifully convey every nuance of expression on the little girl's face. They're much more engaging than the text.?Sue Norris, Rye Free Reading Room, NYCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. From