74 BOOKLIFE, MARCH 8, 2021
PICTURE BOOKS
If You Could Ask
Your Dog One
Question
Kim Messina | My Human
“N” Me, Inc.
32p, hardcover, $17.99,
ISBN 978-0-578-23744-2
In Messina’s
endearing debut
picture book, a young
girl ponders what
singular question she
might pose to her pet dog if the two could understand each other.
As she imagines the possibilities, the unnamed girl’s thoughts
cycle through both the happy and sad times she has had while
caring for her dog. The events inform the questions she
considers, such as thinking of a snowy day and asking, “Do her
feet sting in the snow?” Nataliia Pavliuk’s inviting watercolor-
style drawings of the girl and her pup accompany these rumina-
tions. She continues to ask questions about the dog’s daily
doings—her constant scratching, fear of thunder, and penchant
for stealing fuzzy socks. Ultimately, after running through ques-
tions big and small, the girl lands on the most important one.
Readers will adore the devotion the girl has for her do—and vice
versa. The compassion is clearly demonstrated through both the
language and the illustrations. With a light rhyme scheme and
textured words like “munch,” “howl,” and “trample,” the text is
ideal for read-aloud sessions with younger children. Dog owners
will relate to the questions, including “Does she understand my
words?” and “What causes all
those zoomies?” Although the
story will mostly resonate with
people who have a pet dog, any
reader who enjoys the company
of animals will find the ques-
tions amusing.
The images are just as
engaging as the words,
perfectly complementing the
story and the girl’s thoughts
with pastel colors, clean lines,
and a soft focus. Appealingly
simple, the drawings also
convey a sense of movement
and fluidity that lends well to
the pacing of the story, particu-
larly for reading aloud. Young
readers and families will enjoy
following the girl’s hypothet-
ical questions (“How does it
feel to dive in leaves?”) and will
likely feel an even stronger
connection to their pets after
the journey.PICTURE BOOKS
My First Geography
Book: The World Tour
of Stuffed Toys around
their Apartment
Igor Okunev | Gatekeeper Press
44p, hardcover, $21.99, ISBN 978-1-
662-90281-9
Okunev’s vibrant chapter
book encourages young
readers to embrace the study of
geography by introducing the
science through the observant
eyes of a youngster and his
talkative stuffed toys. A commotion breaks loose as eager toys
discuss the young narrator’s favorite book, a world atlas. The
menagerie is uninformed but curious: The rhino announces it
would like to visit Africa, the penguin feels he would be comfort-
able in Antarctica, and the kangaroo insists they all make a trip to
Australia, as it’s less cold and less hot than the other choices.
Having read more books than others, the owl announces that
everybody should take care to learn geography, the science that,
as he puts it, “studies our planet and everything on it.” The toys
study their “big home” (the Earth) and their “little home,” right
down to their immediate surroundings—the rules of geography
can even help explain the organization of their apartment.
Katya Kolmakov and Olga Baron’s evocative and charming
illustrations suffuse the tale with splendor and warmth, and their
vivid brushstrokes adeptly support the story. Brimming with
facts, information, and profound perspectives, Okunev’s tale
juggles several goals. At once, the book is an adequate introduc-
tion to geography and also an
ode to environmentalism,
cartography, and imagination.
The unidentified narrator’s
age remains ambiguous, but his
tone and the maturity is incon-
sistent. Often, he’s incisive, but
at other occasions, naïve and
artless. The pacing suffers
hiccups when the tale’s
premise is set twice within ten
pages of each other, while
sometimes laborious detailing
of the characters and settings
diminish the story’s focus.
Thought-provoking calls-to-
actions at the end of chapters
will engage readers and invite
questions. Ultimately, the book
proves an engrossing, informa-
tive read that mostly achieves
its bold ambitions—and in
retaining readers’ attention.This picture book’s
illustrated thoughts
of a girl deciding
the best question to
ask her pet dog will
appeal to young
animal lovers.Production grades
Cover: B+
Design & typography: B+
Illustrations: B+
Editing: B-
Marketing copy: B+Production grades
Cover: A-
Design & typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A-Illuminating and
often delightful, this
picture book invites
young readers to
appreciate the
world through the
lens of geography.Great for fans of
Salvatore Rubbino’s A
Walk in London, Kate
Siber’s National Parks
of the USA.Great for fans of
Peggy Rathmann’s
Officer Buckle and
Gloria, Stacy
McAnulty’s Excellent
Ed.PAID REVIEWS