A Dog Day for Susan

PreS-Gr 2—Spencer and his family can't wait for Great-Aunt Alice to visit next weekend! Or can they? Not only is she coming but she's also bringing her dog, Susan. Spencer and his dog, Barney, are not sure that Susan is their kind of dog. She has long, beautiful hair and is dignified and graceful. She eats her cake on a plate, sleeps all afternoon, and must have an umbrella over her head when she goes outside in the rain. The weekend is not easy for Spencer. He misses his favorite TV show because Susan must watch her show. A trip to the zoo is not possible because Susan will not be allowed inside. She even gets to have Spencer's juicy barbecued steak! Spencer and Barney decide to take action. They know that deep down inside there is a real dog just waiting to get out. Will their plan work? And if it does work, how will Great-Aunt Alice take the changes in her pet? This is a fun book for independent reading or as a read-aloud. The lengths to which Spencer and Barney go to unleash Susan's inner dog are entertaining—from running around to rolling in mud to eating garbage. The well-drawn and appealing illustrations, done in mixed media, enhance the story and bring the expressive canines to life.