Let's Hear It for Bulldogs

December 15, 2013
Grades 2-4 Looking for pet books? This is your lucky century, because there's a metric ton. The Dog Applause series may not distinguish itself much from the pack (so to speak), but it's nonetheless a straightforward and charming effort that will leash pet lovers to their seats for a while. The text, usually one paragraph per page, is spread over four or five photo-heavy chapters and dutifully lays out stats, characteristics, and history alongside a scattering of boxed fun facts. Jowly, blubbery Bulldogs may look toughthey were, in fact, first bred as pit fightersbut today are among the most mild-mannered of canines. Just be sure to clean out their wrinkles to ward off infection. None of the titles bind themselves too strictly to the overriding structure, allowing each breed to guide the flow of the text. Put your paws together, folks.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)