I am not a dog toy

PreS-Gr 2--At a birthday gathering with presents, a small stuffed brown bear (sporting a stylish vest full of pockets) announces himself to be the "most favorite toy ever" and subsequently finds himself casually tossed into the dog's water dish by the unimpressed birthday girl, shown with black hair and light brown skin. A variety of small and large images enhance the narrative with brightly colored digital scenes, as a patient and thoughtful big white dog presents a different viewpoint, promising to play with the bear and love him in his special dog way. But the bear refuses all offers of friendship, and repeatedly attempts to engage his kid. The dog insists he is "totally a dog toy" and proves it with a whirlwind of playful moves across the room. Seconds later, the girl callously drops the bear into the wedge of lost toys between her bed and the wall. It takes a heroic reach behind the bed to rescue the bear before he disappears with all the other mangled, useless toys. That's when the bear finally realizes that the one who wants to be his best friend (and appreciates his pocket vest) is the dog. A recommended general purchase for all libraries, this examination of a growing relationship from a viewpoint closer to the floor underscores what creates an important bond between friends. VERDICT Featuring one of the most thoughtless heroines seen in recent picture books, this sneakily adorable tale may offer readers a glimpse of their own behavior in their rushes to judgement over potential playmates and friends.--Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano I.S.D., TX

A spoiled girl rudely rejects a birthday gift of a teddy bear and flings it over to the eagerly rambunctious family dog. The stuffed bear, welcomed by the dog, insists it is "a fancy kids' toy with lots of pockets," and indeed the vest it wears is festooned with them. It is not meant to be a disgusting, chewed, and torn-up dog toy. After being ignored by the little girl one too many times, the bear is eventually thrown into "the wedge" between her bed and the wall to join her other discards. The bear finally relents, giving in to the dog's persistent cajoling to play and ultimately have lots of fun as a dog toy. Black-outlined cartoons of a scruffy, floppy-eared mutt and a smug brown bear dressed in a utility vest expand on the dialogue-only narrative. The text does not use speech balloons to attribute the dialogue but rather a different typeface for the various characters. Empathy for the bear builds as the girl's callous actions continue. Choosing friends can be a tricky road to follow in life and rejection a difficult reality to accept. Readers will cheer when the dog's boundless exuberance eventually counters the girl's incessant dismissal to create a satisfying bond, and dog lovers will certainly appreciate the sentiments behind the dog's role in the story. The girl, the only human in the story, is a child of color. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 50% of actual size.) More Toy Story than Corduroy, a satisfying tale of unexpected friendship. (Picture book. 5-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.