November 1, 2015
Grades K-2 Bright-eyed doggie faces are nearly irresistible in any form, and this series takes full advantage of that. Each volume focuses on a specific breed, with the close-up portraits of each adorable face, as well as spreads of action shots, as the main selling point. Beagles looks at the history of this small hound dog, examining how the shape of its body makes it a more effective hunter. Each volume discusses the appearance and a brief history of each dog while also providing a chart that addresses the American Kennel Club statistics of each, indicating the life span and trainability of the different breeds. The information is fairly superficial, although back matter provides a list of further resources, and perhaps a bit too upbeat, as it glosses over some of the more difficult aspects of each breed. Still, the colorful photographs draw the eye, and the subject matter is ever popular among young dog owners and dog lovers alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)