Miss Moon Wise words from a dog governess

Miss Moon, a "dog governess" to sixty-seven dogs on a small French island, offers twenty pieces of advice for living, accompanied by playful, vintage-looking paintings; the design juxtaposes whimsical content with formal presentation. The lessons are clichis, and there is no story, but the illustrations are filled with humor, surprises, and identifiable dog breeds. Handsomely designed, this is best suited to browsing. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Twenty succinct bits of advice for living are accompanied by whimsical oil paintings of an English governess and her canine charges. The book begins with a tongue-in-cheek introduction, advising readers that Miss Wilhelmina Moon, dog governess, is sharing her "most important lessons for raising happy, healthy, well-mannered poochesand people." This is followed by 20 attractively laid-out double-page spreads. Most of them feature a one-sentence "lesson" on the verso, framed with wallpaperlike borders, and a humorous painting on the recto; two print the "lesson" on a doily placed over an illustration that stretches entirely across the two pages. A wide variety of dog breeds are accurately portrayed in a post-impressionist styleexcept for the anthropomorphic details that cannot help but charm viewers. (All the dogs in "Never stop learning" wear glasses, and two carry pens in their mouths.) And what a talent Hill has for that mea culpa doggy look! The fair, red-haired governessimpeccable in her long, white-collared dressalways appears kind, unflappable, and dignified. There is no human diversity here, as Miss Moon is the only person, but her equal poise at roadster-driving and archery along with more-traditional feminine activities provides a strong role model. The "lessons" range from timeworn adages to redundant phrases, but (speaking of timeworn phrases) every picture is indeed worth a thousand words. Enchanting for dog lovers. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.