Hello, Tobi!

PreS-Gr 1–Throughout history, humans have wondered what colors dogs perceive. Rather than focusing on this perennial scientific question, the more compelling inquiry is how they emotionally “see” the world and how humans might emulate their generous, accepting spirits. For dogs like Tobi, who have been taken care of by a loving family, the world is full of many different, interesting types of people and dogs, and Tobi wants “to say hello to all the other dogs and their families” when he takes a walk with his multicultural family of three. Tobi sees families that are small or big, with tall or short people. Some families are composed of quiet people, while other families are “LOUD and like to talk, yell, or even sing.” Tobi observes families that play together or observe nature quietly. Some families look like one another, while others do not. Tobi loves all the families and their dogs, not judging based on human constructs like appearance, gender, or status. Cáceres’s illustrations are two-dimensional and colorful, conveying effortlessly the loving feelings of the families depicted as well as their dogs.