Always In Trouble
Kindergarten-Grade 2—Emma's dog is lovable, but his misbehavior is a serious problem. Using a predictable pattern to tell the story, Demas relates Toby's antics each day of the week and his experiences at dog-training school. Then, in a leap from reality to fantasy, Toby demonstrates that he is a good dog by baking bread, vacuuming the rug, and folding the laundry, among other household jobs. The ending, however, shows that the pup has not given up all of his old ways. The story is great for reading aloud, but the many humorous details in the cartoon-style illustrations make it fun for individual reading as well. Text, illustration, and design all work together to create a delightful story.—Marilyn Ackerman, Brooklyn Public Library, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.