Little Dog Poems - Hardcover

June Otani was a children’s book illustrator and printmaker. She passed away in 2012.
 

From waking ("Little Dog's cold nose / is better than any / alarm clock") to bedtime, a cycle of brief poems follows a busy little golden brown mop of a dog through the day. The events are as ordinary, and as entrancing, as a child's own daily round; the language is simple and concrete enough for the youngest listeners. Little Dog chases the "enemy" vacuum until it "learns its lesson / and stops growling"; watching two delivery vehicles (plus a cat) through the window adds up to a busy morning of "Ground Traffic Control." Some entries are born of human surmises concerning a dog's point of view ("Little Dog watches / chopping / and stirring / with one big thought: / Drop"); all are voiced by the dog's constant companion, a self-possessed little girl. But it's the author's true understanding of canine behavior and her insight into the happy relationship between dog and child that particularly distinguish this book. As the little girl notes, she and Little Dog can teach each other games ("I taught Little Dog to play / Catch. / Little Dog is teaching me to play / Chase"). Like any good friend, this child also respects the dog's opinions, even if they seem a little silly ("Little Dog has six / yellow tennis balls, / all the very same. / The best ball / is the one / under the bed"). Otani's pen-and-watercolor illustrations make a fine complement to the verse, characterizing the pair as curious and alert as well as affectionate. Horn Book

These agreeable poems from George (Old Elm Speaks, 1998, etc.) chronicle a day in the life of a little dog doing little dog things. After the obligatory cold nose wakes the dog's young keeper, the dog duels the vacuum cleaner, surveys the territory from the window, gives the letter carrier notice, curls like a watch spring into a spot of sunlight, snoozes, duels with a beetle, makes a mess, tears things apart, serves and protects. Otani has made the dog a playful terrier typeall vim and vinegar--although the rest of the artwork is attractively delicate. George plays with words with a sure hand; just as surely, Otani picks up on their expressive qualities, e.g., showing the bedraggled pup in ``Bath,'' ``Dripping and soggy,/Little Dog/really is/little.'' A charming glimpse of life with a small dog, and its small but satisfying pleasures.
Kirkus Reviews

"Balancing simplicity with eloquence, the haiku-like verses make an inviting introduction to poetry." School Library Journal, Starred