Archie
Archie is a dog who owns a dog (think Goofy/Pluto). When the handsome fellow acquires a sewing machine, Archie makes his white Highland terrier a coat. While out for a walk, he spies a woman (bulldog) walking her bulldog—perhaps she would like a coat for her pet? Soon business is booming: dogs are being dressed, and then the bulldog woman asks for an outfit of her own. A lovely green suit is made, Archie and his friend begin stepping out, and a trip to Greece is in the works. On the last spread, a lady with a crown and a corgi rings Archie. The ending may fall flat for kids, who probably won’t know that the lady is Queen Elizabeth. Still, this picture book (wordless, except for some sound effects, e.g., ring, ring) has a lot going for it. Smooth, buff-colored pages provide the background for the exceptionally well-executed ink-and-watercolor art in which the characters are always the focus. With little else to distract, one does notice that Archie sometimes looks different (it’s the ears), but this mostly charms, both in style and offbeat substance. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene Cooper