Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Dog's first baby by Natalie Nelson

In oranges, greens, and reds, a spunky dog follows along as a new baby is introduced to their house.

The baby, with a round, brown head and a squiggle of hair, matches up with the dog, a white and black-spotted mutt only a little larger. The dog investigates whether this new creature is a dog also, and finds out that it doesn’t smell like a dog, its front paws are different, (Ouch! Says the dog, when the baby pulls its ears), and it has no tail. But there are ways they are alike, taking naps, walking on all fours, sharing their toys, and howling when they’re hungry.

The flat delivery is more likely to strike an adult as funny than a child, for example on the spread where the baby eats a messy meal and the dog cleans up on the ground, it says “You eat lots of meals all day long. I admire this.” But there are also parts that will appeal to young listeners, like the dog and baby hiding in a basket of laundry.

Although the muted palette does not appeal to me personally, the illustrations are mostly simple and easily followed by very young children. There are only a few finer details that will require a closer look and there is a strong contrast between the white dog, brown child, and blue, green, and orange backgrounds.

Verdict: A fun addition to storytime and board book collections, this would be especially fitting for a storytime about - or with - dogs, with a few points for emphasizing how to safely and kindly interact with our four-pawed friends.

ISBN: 9781683692799; Published October 2021 by Quirk Books; Review copy provided by publisher