Such a Good Boy

PreS-Gr 2–Buzz the dog is a good boy. He lives in a big house and has a nice life. But Buzz is lonely, and sometimes he wants to play with sticks, mark some territory, or even roll in a puddle. Buzz isn’t supposed to do any of those things; he has to uphold the family legacy (he is Buzz VI after all). One day Buzz is tired of being such a good boy, and a roll in a puddle leads him to the Good Boy doggy salon. When an opportunity to break free presents itself, Buzz escapes—and is able to let loose and be a not-so-good boy. Coppo’s detailed illustrations are marvelous, colorful, and engaging. There are tiny elements to enjoy on each page, including arrows to identify the path of Buzz’s daily walk, or the various dogs playing in the dog park. But Buzz’s escape—and freedom—are a bit startling. Buzz’s enjoyment of being a free dog coincides with Lost Dog posters plastered everywhere, letting readers know that even though Buzz is stifled by his owner’s rules, they do love him and miss him (though it doesn’t seem like he misses them much at all). Overall, this is an enjoyable and readable picture book. Sensitive readers might ask a lot of questions about Buzz, so it could spark lots of conversation.