Stella and Tulip: A Home for Us
K-Gr 2–In this awkward and didactic story, a lost mother and daughter dachshund meet a wise pug who leads them, along with a variety of other strays gathered on the way, to the wonderful “Shona, the rescue lady who lives in Tacoma.” During the journey, the dogs eat trash and discuss microchips, pet abandonment, the economy, and the history of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Green's pen cartoons are lacking. At times, a dachshund resembles a pig, the pooch poses are unnatural, and the backgrounds are trite–brilliantly blossoming gardens, a Pop art sunrise, and enormous butterflies. Although this picture book is well intentioned, it misses too many marks.Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA© Copyright 2010.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.