Dog Loves Drawing

PreS-Gr 2—In this follow-up to the adorable Dog Loves Books (Knopf, 2010), the pup receives a blank book as a gift. He quickly realizes that it's a sketchbook, and though initially struck by artist's block, he soon uses his pencils and pens to draw himself some friends, a boat and a train to ride, and food for them to feast on, all of which magically come to life on the page. When one of Dog's new friends draws a monster, though, Dog must quickly use his skills to contain it and create an escape route. While the drawing-comes-to-life conceit is commonly explored in picture books, Yates takes the concept and targets a younger audience to great effect. All of Dog's drawings, from friends to food, look like those of a child, while her depiction of Dog maintains his characteristic style, and illustrations of his tools are more sophisticated. The addition of the monster amps up the action and suspense without turning the story into a truly scary one, making this an adventure for all. This book will inspire and entertain young artists and fun-loving readers alike.—Heather Talty, formerly at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City