Circle Dogs

by Kevin Henkes and Dan Yaccarino

"In the big square house live two circle dogs. / See the dogs? See the circles? Shh.... read more

"In the big square house live two circle dogs. / See the dogs? See the circles? Shh. They're sleeping now." Soon enough the two curled-up dachshunds awaken and stretch, and we are treated to the sights and sounds of everyday life with two lively dogs, as seen from the perspective of a small child. Henkes is right on target with his wry observations, from the clinking of dog tags and clacking of toenails to the stomp, whoosh, grrrrowl of the midday mail. Yaccarino's flat, stylized illustrations are at once sophisticated and childlike as they combine abstraction with the familiar and comforting repetition of circles and squares. There's an old-fashioned feel to the book as a whole: Henkes's intimate child-centered text rivals the best writing of Margaret Wise Brown, while Yaccarino's style is reminiscent of Esphyr Slobodkina's illustrations for Brown's classic, The Little Fireman (William Scott, 1938). Highly Commended, 1999 Charlotte Zolotow Award. (Ages 2-4)

© Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 1998

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