C'mere, Boy! - Hardcover

Sharon Jennings is an award-winning author of many books for young people, including C'mere, Boy! and Bearcub and Mama, a finalist for the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award. Sharon lives in Toronto.

Kindergarten-Grade 2—Dog wants a boy. His mother says it's okay as long as he takes care of it, but she warns him, "A boy is hard to train." On Monday, he puts boy food on the grocery list. Tuesday he gets a leash so he can walk his boy. Wednesday he goes to obedience school to see what he can teach his boy. Thursday he's turned away from the Doggy Spa for not having a boy to pay for the haircut and pedicure. Friday he leaves the house determined to return with a boy. After a long day of fruitless searching, Dog stays out too late and is picked up by the dogcatcher. Saturday he meets just the right boy in the meet 'n' greet room at the shelter. Sunday he writes his mom a letter saying he's found a boy and will stay at his house for a while, but he'll visit soon. Children will be amused by the role reversal while adults wonder why a boy is needed to pay for spa services but not groceries. And why does Dog specifically want a boy? Was he wronged by a girl in his past? Using a color palette of muted tans, blues, greens, and grays, Spires's illustrations are decidedly retro. The characters have unambiguous expressions and there are plenty of details to entertain, such as the mother burying a bone with a garden trowel and the doggy waste bags at the park. Fun, but additional.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH
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