Review by Booklist Review
A boy named Charlie is reluctant to make choices. What if he chooses the wrong thing? On the other hand, failure to choose between chocolate or vanilla sometimes means "no ice cream at all." When it's time to select a birthday present, he finds the possibilities mind-boggling. But soon, inspiration (in the form of a flier encouraging rescue-dog adoptions) strikes. Charlie visits an animal shelter, but the number of possible choices overwhelms him, and he leaves alone. Fortunately, an enterprising little white-and-brown pooch tunnels under a fence, runs after him, and makes Charlie happy by choosing him. Back at home, the dog helps Charlie make choices, and the boy considers names for his new pet. Concise and well attuned to the audience, the narrative leaves plenty of space for the illustrator to expand the storytelling visually. While the colorful digital artwork is inviting throughout, kids are likely to linger longest on the pages filled with dogs and look back through the pictures for glimpses of Charlie's canine companion. A satisfying picture book for dog-lovers.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
An indecisive child is chosen. Poor Charlie is an anxious little boy. He can't make even small decisions about things like ice cream and underwear, never mind choosing the present he wants for his birthday. Peacock's text humorously conveys Charlie's worries about making the wrong choices without ever stooping to poke fun while Slater's cartoon art adopts a retro style that makes the picture book feel somehow familiar. A sleepless, wide-eyed Charlie lying in bed uncertain whether he wants the light on or off will elicit sympathy. When Charlie finally does decide that a pet dog would be the perfect birthday present, he confronts his biggest conundrum yet: which pup to pick at the animal shelter? This is where Slater's illustrations truly shine, with depictions of a range of dog breeds that seem like a mashup of Sandra Boynton's and Christian Robinson's styles. In a pitch-perfect ending, the perfect pup chooses Charlie, relieving him of the need to make a decision and giving him a companion who helps ease his worries from that point on. Charlie has light-brown skin and a shock of brown hair; neither he nor any of the other racially diverse children who populate this book seem to have any parents, nor any need of them--a whimsical detail that adds appeal. Choose this one, for sure. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
