![]() Nor does Pete have a great sense of scansion: “On the first day of Christmas, / Pete gave to me… / A road trip to the sea. If it weren’t part of the title and repeated on every other page, readers unfamiliar with Pete’s shtick might have a hard time arriving at “groovy” to describe his Christmas celebration, as the expressionless cat displays not a hint of groove in Dean’s now-trademark illustrations. Pete, the cat who couldn’t care less, celebrates Christmas with his inimitable lassitude. This is the true, exact depth of purpose any avid reader, even the doggy ones, wishes-sharing the joy. ![]() The cover illustration of a happy Dog marching with a stack of books and the display type are set in a shiny finish of red, white and blue on top of a linen-like background, establishing the truth of the title words from the beginning. The front endpapers show dogs depicted in the story observant readers will notice that the rear endpapers show them reading titles specific to their breeds. The gentle lines and watercolors leave white space on the pages, drawing attention to Dog and his books. When customers do arrive, Dog is more than ready to recommend books they will enjoy. ![]() ![]() He does not despair he reads more books, indulging in literarily inspired flights of fancy. Yes, “Dog loves books,” so much so that he decides to open a bookstore. Yates uses words and illustration sparingly to set the pace for this jaunty tale book lovers will lap right up. ![]()
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