Small Walt spots Dot by Elizabeth Verdick, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal

 This team has created two books about Small Walt so far, and both are perennial favorites. They're definitely an homage to the classic Katy and the big snow with a small snowplow proving his worth when the bigger, newer machines can't make it. However, they're more than just a knockoff, with old-fashioned but fresh illustrations and a brisk, rhyming text.

In Small Walt's latest adventure, he's busy with Gus plowing the small but important areas. Sidewalks, fire hydrants, and parking lots, he clears them all. But although he does his best, he keeps noticing something - a scruffy dog, running here and there. Although his attempts to make Gus see the stray fail, when he slams on his brakes and the dog runs in front of him, even Gus notices!

Officer Chance and her community-service SUV pull up and the two drivers take off in pursuit of the dog - but it's Walt whose careful maneuvering and open door finally corral the scruffy mutt. As soon as Officer Chance and Bea take the dog away, Walt misses her. His cheerful refrain changes to "My name is Walt.../I plow and salt./I miss pup's feet.../on my front seat." Still he keeps doing his job. Finally, after all the plowing is finished, Gus says they have one more stop - at a very busy parking lot to pick up a special new friend! Now the dog has a new home, a new name, Dot, and Walt is thrilled with his new friends.

The story is slight and a bit fanciful in places - a stray couldn't be adopted in a few hours! - but the cheerful rhythm and old-fashioned simplicity of the story are greatly appealing. Walt's cheerful refrain continues throughout the rhyming story and the skillfully drawn illustrations show a small town with expertly plowed small corners and friendly neighbors on every street.

Two practiced creators have brought back a popular creation for a perfect read-aloud, with plenty of infectious rhythm and simple, clean lines that will keep kids' glued to the story until the happy ending. This retains the repetition, simplicity, and satisfying story of earlier classics, but gently updates them for a modern and caring community as well as keeping the text brief for a younger audience. Bea is a "community-service" SUV, not a police car, the officer is female, with dark skin, and although they don't notice her at first, nobody suggests that time spent on corralling a stray dog is wasted.

Verdict: Although not quite as strong a story as the previous volumes, this is still a stellar read-aloud and the perfect choice to add some fresh stories to your winter vehicle storytimes. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781534442849; Published September 2020 by Simon & Schuster; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library.