When Frank, a boy, meets Lucky, a dog, “Both of them were just pups. They had a lot to learn.” That’s exactly what school is for. For Frank and Lucky, the world is their classroom. With Lucky’s help, Frank learns Botany pulling burrs from Lucky’s coat, and Chemistry and the try-again aspects of experimentation attempting to remove the skunk smell when Lucky gets sprayed. (They study Astronomy under a night sky when Lucky is banished outside.) Lucky excels at listening during Reading, while Math is everywhere (How many biscuits? How much hair is it possible to shed?), even fractions (“how much of the bed is Lucky’s, and how much is Frank’s?”) Art, History, Geography—lessons aren’t lessons at all when Frank and Lucky are together. The detailed illustrations, full of speech-bubble dialogue and additional moments of humor, are a pleasure to pour over and a seamless part of the storytelling in this warm, clever offering. (Ages 4–8)

Newbery Medalist and bestselling author Lynne Rae Perkins introduces a boy (Frank) and a dog (Lucky) in this celebratory, wry, and happily unconventional introduction to the subjects children encounter in school. This beautifully illustrated, humorous, and insightful picture book offers a new twist on the classic boy-and-his-dog story!

On a rainy day, Frank’s parents take him to the shelter to get a new dog. That’s how Frank finds Lucky, and from that moment on, they’re inseparable. As Frank and Lucky venture out into the world around them, they discover they both have a lot to learn. Exploring their neighborhood teaches them about biology: Lucky learns all about squirrels, deer, and—unfortunately for Frank—skunks. Sharing a bed teaches them about fractions—what happens when one dog takes up three-quarters of the bed, or even the whole thing? They even learn different languages: Frank makes a friend who speaks Spanish and Lucky tries to learn Duck! Who knew you could learn so much without ever setting foot inside a classroom?