Naughty Naughty Pets: Dig, Ivan Dig!
PreSchool-One of four series titles that casts the artist/author's plush toy creations as featured characters. A bored, apartment-bound dog digs a mess of holes right through the floor and another through the door. Then, recognizing what a lot of trouble he'll be in for scraping away at every surface in sight, this no-longer-naughty dog dons some overalls, grabs some tools and spackle, and repairs the damage. While the simple rhyming text moves along nicely enough, it draws to a rather stodgy conclusion ("Behave yourself, do your chores, and keep your digging out of doors!"). The boldly drawn visuals with dense hues, simply shaped objects, and clean edges are appealing. Oddly, the canine resembles a molar, and his lack of expression makes him seem as static as the toy his character is based upon. In fact, almost everything about this book seems more concerned with concept than content, leaving the impression that it is simply a handsome marketing ploy.Teri Markson, Stephen S. Wise Temple Elementary School, Los AngelesCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.