Puddle Pug
PreS-Gr 2—Adorably irresistible Percy, a puddle-loving pug, makes a map of all the puddles he comes across while searching for the perfect one. He tries swamp puddles, stomp puddles, ready-for-a-romp puddles, foggy puddles, froggy puddles, and deeper—than-a doggy puddles, but none reach perfection. When Percy finds his dream puddle, he sees that it's already occupied by Mama Pig and her piglets, and he cannot win her acceptance. He tries to blend in, attempts to share a tasty treat, and even uses an underwater route to get to the puddle, but Mama Pig pitches him out. Then, when Petunia goes missing, it is Percy who knows where to find the little piglet. Happy, smiling animals, drawn with pencil and painted digitally, make cameos throughout the story. The pup's facial expressions are spot-on, and the rhyme and repetition are amusing and fun to read aloud. A beautiful tale of friendship, determination, and perseverance.—H. Islam, Brooklyn Public Library