Archie the hound looks forward to the surprise he has been promised by his human family. Will it be the friend he has always wanted? When his owners bring home Max, the new baby, Archie finds himself being ignored. Finally, his extended family attempts to make up for months of neglect with a series of misguided activities. Still longing for a companion, Archie realizes that Max has gotten old enough to be “the perfect friend” (31). Full-color illustrations with a surreal twist add a humorous, bizarre dimension to the story. Children’s Magazine Best Books of the Year; Parents’ Choice Award Winner. chs