Huang, Ya-Ling. This Is the Way in Dog Town. Ya-Ling Huang, Illus. Frances Lincoln, 06/2024. [28]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-7112-9533-9. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Kindergarten. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Originally published in the UK in 1988, this engaging picture book is a variation of the song “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.” The setting is a town filled with various breeds of dogs, living in houses, and going through their day getting ready for school and work, performing daily activities, and finally getting ready for bed. The detailed cartoon artwork uses watercolor, gouache, pencil, and collage to depict dogs wearing human clothing as they go about town. Although the rhyming chant can be a little awkward at times, the repetition and chanted actions, such as “brush, brush, brush,” make this a great choice for storytime. Review based on an ARC.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool