Nanny Paws

PreS-Gr 1—It's just a regular Tuesday at home with Nanny Paws, a lively pink poodle, and school-age twin girls, Ally and Mae. The narration exudes energy and helpfulness, explaining, "There's nothing [Nanny Paws] wouldn't do for her girls," and describes how the pooch spends the morning washing their faces, helping them get dressed, serving breakfast, clearing the table, and more. However, the loose, sketchy pencil-and-watercolor illustrations tell quite a different story. While the text describes how Nanny Paws cleans up the girls' toys and then does some gardening, the corresponding charming artwork shows the poodle ripping up stuffed animals and burying them in the backyard. When the girls come home from school early with tummy aches, Nanny Paws quickly warms their bellies (rolls across them) and sings soothing lullabies (in howls that cause the girls to cover their ears). The juxtaposition of the story line with the silly, inviting illustrations makes for a romping tale that amusingly illustrates home life with a good-hearted, but less-than-perfectly behaved dog.