My Dog Smudge

Rim’s sunny lift-the-flap book winsomely attempts a dog bark translation. “Most dogs bark,” simple first-person narration opens; “My dog Smudge, does not.” Heading to a barnyard, a light-brown-skinned protagonist queries its residents with the repeat question, “Excuse me, do you know what my dog is saying?” From pig to cow and beyond, each animal redirects to another. “BLIIZIZP” the white-and-black pup vocalizes; “Neighhhhhh, that’s not Horse. However, I detect a tad bit of buzz,” replies a friendly-looking equine figure. After Owl, too, confesses ignorance, the child cheerfully abandons their efforts, leaving the dog to close out the story with a final, more easily decipherable sound. Set against white pages, spare visuals have a casual, sketch-like quality that incorporates loose scribbles and thick smudgy coloring. The naive vibe pairs ideally with the book’s simple plotting, resulting in a warmly playful story about two loved ones reaching an understanding. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)