The Great Puppy Invasion by Alastair Heim, illustrated by Kim Smith - ADVISABLE

Heim, Alastair.  The Great Puppy Invasion, illustrated by Kim Smith.  Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), 2017.  $16.99.  Content: G.  PICTURE BOOK.

Once there was a very strict town that didn’t allow fun or cuteness, until the day a puppy arrived. Then more puppies.  The town tried to get rid of the puppies.  They threw sticks and the puppies simply brought them back.  They tried to chase them away, but the puppies seemed to love to run.  Finally, they tried to get rid of the puppies by feeding them.  The puppies wagged their tails and were cuter than ever.  All of the townspeople ran to hide in their houses, except for one boy who picked up a puppy.  One by one the townspeople came out of their houses and all found their very own puppy.  And the town wasn’t strict again.

The digital illustrations show a great variety of dogs and people.  Children will love the expressive expressions on the townspeople and that they are afraid of the cute puppies.  The pacing is perfect in the picture book and even small children will understand the humor implied (sticks to chase them away, becomes “fetch”).  A delightful twist that will appeal to both two-legged and four-legged friends. 

Pre-K, EL-ADVISABLE.  Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.