Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Every dog has its rough day now and then, which in this high-energy picture book calls for a letter to Mr. Mutt, Canine Counselor. Whether addressing a dog put on a diet by his people, or a pooch who's scolded for barking too much, Mr. Mutt offers a written note of nuts-and-bolts advice (to the hungry dog, he recommends searching the trash, etc.) and anti-cat commentary. His snooty, tiara-wearing cat companion, The Queen, takes issue with his catty remarks, writing rebuttals on pink stationery. Similar to Mark Teague's Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School in both theme and epistolary format, this sister act's (The Great Fuzz Frenzy) effort lacks LaRue's narrative flow and clever situational humor. Stevens's mixed-media scenes of the pets' ultimate altercation contain the most fun: The Queen demonstrates her prowess with a digitally manipulated ball of yarn as she, taking umbrage at a feline insult, keeps her canine cohort too tied up to help his correspondents out of the doghouse. Ages 3 7. (Apr.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr 2 4 With tongue firmly in cheek, the dynamic Stevens sisters have crafted a multilayered story that looks at various situations in the life of an average dog. Through a series of letters to Mr. Mutt, a doggie version of Dear Abby, the text invites readers to learn about the tribulations of "Underplayed in Utah" or "Famished in Florida" and the encouragement they garner from their correspondences. Each letter has its own distinctive style depending on the complaint and the writer's personality but all end with a postscript that refers to the treatment or behavior of cats in the household. Mr. Mutt ends each reply with his own postscript that refers to the cat that shares his home. Here, the book rises to another level of humor with the inclusion of additional commentary from "The Queen," the supremely superior feline who keeps Mr. Mutt in his place. The tension between them builds throughout the letters until a physical confrontation occurs near the end of the story. Mr. Mutt's replies to the dogs in distress include many sketches of "illustrated tips" as well as a variety of graphs to substantiate the advice. While the story will find fans in the primary grades, its most appreciative audience will be among more sophisticated readers who will recognize the amount of effort that went into this creative venture. It's a great read just for fun, and teachers will find a wealth of ways to incorporate it into lessons on letter writing, newspapers, and presenting information through graphs. Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Sisters Stevens and Crummel, dog lovers both, share their affection for canines in this oversize picture book that both adults and kids will like. Bespectacled canine counselor Mr. Mutt dispenses advice to dogs suffering clueless humans and "spoiled rotten" cats. When Famished in Florida (whose tummy is a mere inch from the floor) moans about too little kibble, Mr. Mutt offers strategies: hang around a baby's high chair. It's "raining food." As Mutt tippy-taps advice on his typewriter, tiara-wearing Queen the cat pens snarky responses to those who disparage her species. Finally, having suffered one too many canine cuts, Queen gives "Muttface" his due. Art and text work seemlessly, with plenty of visual and verbal jokes (including goofy sketches and graphs) to entice repeated readings. Even the endpapers are part of the fun, and as usual, Stevens' animals have so much personality, kids will find themselves wanting to take them home. . . well, maybe not Queen. Zvirin, Stephanie. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.