Hickory Dickory Dog

PreS-Gr 2—Set to the tune of "Hickory Dickory Dock," Murray's original text perfectly fits the traditional nursery song. Zack and his scruffy and adorable dog Rufus go through a day of activities, from rising when the alarm clock rings to bedtime. In between, they play in a park, paint, eat lunch, garden, and bathe. The language is pure fun in places ("Hickory dickory dee,/Haroo!/Hurrah!/Yippee!") and always child-friendly. The digitally rendered artwork is colorful and appealing. Various analog clock faces are highlighted throughout the illustrations, reinforcing the passage of time. The book begs to be read aloud or, even more appropriately, sung aloud. The generous size of the book, the clarity and appeal of the illustrations, and the fluidity of the text make it a good choice for storytime. And if shared one-on-one, the text and art will elicit great conversations.—Maralita L. Freeny, District of Columbia Public Library