It is summer and it is HOT in the city. In this incredibly illustrated new picture book by Doug Salati, you can feel the summer heat, sweltering pavement, and oppressive crowds. Past the fire engines, construction crews, and chaotic skateboarders mom and her little dog walk until her hot dog has had ENOUGH. “THAT’S IT!” And lays down in the middle of the crosswalk. Throughout the illustrations, readers will notice little dog’s mom growing grumpier and grumpier as errands progress and doggy drags his feet.
Yet suddenly, in the most beautiful empathetic picture, mom leans down in the road, ignoring the honking taxi drivers to comfort and cuddle him up. Right there and then, the plans for the day change, and we follow little dogger and mom in a taxi, on a train, and on a ferry across the water to the… beach! With full spread pictures of sand and water where you can almost feel the fresh sea air through the pages. I loved this book. I have owned a dog in the heat of the city, and cuddled her up into taxi on the hottest day of the year to escape to the dog beach on the shores of lake Michigan. But even if you haven’t lived it, Salati’s illustrations will immerse you in the experience all the same. This book is a love letter to dog people and a lovely little celebration of self care. This librarian cannot recommend it enough and is not surprised to see it was awarded the 2023 Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children.