Treat

Starred review from December 7, 2015
Ball’s Geisel Award–winning Ball got inside the mind of a ball-obsessed dog, and this equally wonderful companion book introduces a roly-poly pooch who rides a roller-coaster of emotions as he prowls, scowls, and begs his way around the house in search of something tasty. “Treat. Treat! Treat? Treat!!” he telepathically beseeches the family toddler who’s munching on cereal, throwing in some balletic moves in hopes of impressing her. But the situation is nearly hopeless: the toddler is interested only in stuffing her own face, grandma and grandpa aren’t any help, the older sister is oblivious, and did the older brother really think a crayon drawing was what the dog was after? Exhausted and disgusted, the dog falls asleep on top of the laundry and dreams of treats—dreams that soon turn to nightmares. Sullivan has created quite a treat herself: a canine hero with a one-track mind and an endlessly expressive one-word vocabulary (aided by comically frenetic typography) whose approach to thwarted desire is, as any child will recognize, all too human. Ages 4–7. Agent: Justin Rucker, Shannon Associates.

Starred review from January 15, 2016
A determined dog's emotions run the gamut while in pursuit of the impossible-to-resist "treat." Waking to an undefined scent, a pudgy pooch follows its nose to a little girl nibbling some cereal. Expecting she will share, it watches her toss the last O-shaped morsel into her mouth, announcing, "treat." Finding another child eating a hotdog, the dog rolls onto its back to attract attention, but she ignores the exposed tummy. Equally disappointed in the treat quest by a boy drawing, a woman sleeping, and a man brushing his teeth, the desperate dog fails to swipe the baby's bottle and despairs after finding its dish filled with inedible toys. Dejected, the dog naps, haunted by surreal dreams of treats, awakening to more cries of "treat." Is this another false lead or the real deal? As in Ball (2013), Sullivan spins a hilarious minidrama around a hyperactive canine and a single word of text. Here, "treat" appears and reappears on nearly every page or frame in a word bubble above the dog's head or one of the children's. Along with exaggerated facial expressions and body language, variations in punctuation, typeface, and size convey the dog's changing moods. Its family appears to be African-American and includes grandparents as well as the appealing passel of tots. Cartoonlike illustrations, precisely drawn in digitally colored pencil, perfectly capture the portly, perky-eared, wide-eyed canine's treat mania. A relentless, single-minded canine's quest proves to be a rib-tickling treat. (Picture book. 4-7)

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August 1, 2016

PreS-In her follow-up to her Geisel Honor Ball, Sullivan once again tells the tale of a canine with a one-track mind, this time obsessed with getting a treat. This equally whimsical and funny volume uses the exact same format as its predecessor. The dog, this time a pudgy Boston terrier, desperately tries to draw the attention of his humans to get the object he so desperately desires. When the pup cannot attract them, he falls asleep and has a trippy dream where he is haunted by the object he wants the most, always just out of reach or held hostage by some ridiculous captor. The dog finally does wake up and gets the treat that he so rightfully deserves. Sullivan's artwork features exuberant facial expressions and a faded color scheme, giving this offering a warm, retro feel. VERDICT Nothing new but still a wonderful experience. This is a welcome addition to the series and any collection.-Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2016
Preschool-G A rotund, brown-spotted pup has one thing on her mind: treats. Even on the book's cover, she practically vibrates with anticipation. Geisel Honor winner (Ball, 2013) Sullivan uses but one word, treat, in this book, but its various inflections and changing context result in a hilarious, and surprisingly epic, tale. Dog is snoozing away, dreaming of ice cream, when a delicious aroma reaches her nostrils: Treat? Treat! Off she zips to the kitchen, where a snacking toddler refuses to share her food. Perhaps the other family members will throw her a bone. Or not. The canine flops down for a nap of disappointment, which sends her to a riotous, treat-filled dreamland. A cupcake planet! A swimming pool filled with hot dogs! Things are great until Dog's hungry brain turns the tables, with alarming results. Sullivan's digitally colored pencil illustrations are packed with imagination, energy, and humor, and the dog's many emotions are captured particularly well. Kids will eat up this over-the-top ode to snacks.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2016
A dog's search for a treat is foiled repeatedly, leading to a fantastical dream and ultimate reward. The single-word text ("treat! treat? treeeat?") uses varied fonts to communicate tone, while panel illustrations carry the story and give each character a distinct personality. Some illustrations are difficult to follow, but the dog's hapless quest and his over-the-top reactions will tickle readers' funny bones.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)