Dozens of Dachshunds

April 15, 2021
Dachshunds descend in a parade that celebrates their adorableness. A pack of delightful dachshunds (one of which informs readers dachshund is pronounced "DOX-hund") dashes down the street on their way to a Dachshund Day celebration. This story is also a counting book, from one "dashing dachshund," two "cheery dachshunds," three "dazzling dachshunds," and on up to 10 "super dachshunds." The delightful doggos are dressed up for their big day in a wild variety of outfits, including doggie tuxedos, royal robes, ice cream-cone costumes, the hot dogs they're nicknamed after, and more! The cartoon art portrays dachshunds in all their diverse glory, categorized in a helpful glossary at the end. There are dachshunds with smooth, longhaired, and wirehaired coats. There are standard, miniature, and the lesser-known rabbit dachshunds. There are dachshunds of many colors and patterns. The multitudinous types of dachshunds are not the only diversity in the book. There is nearly as much seen among the children who are taking part, including children of different races and a brown-skinned child in a wheelchair that appears more than once (that child's dachshund is dressed up as a book). There's also a doxie that uses wheels. A parade of charm. (Picture book. 2-5)

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2021
Preschool-Grade 1 How do you combine counting, dachshunds, and adorableness in one book? You do it with vivid illustrations, rhyming language, and a parade of costumed pups, happily participating in a Dachshund Day Festival. Progressing from 1 dachshund to a group of 12, the playful text allows children to practice their counting while enjoying the sight of dachshunds dressed as hotdogs, bumblebees, superheroes, and dinosaurs, to name a few. The parade ends at the park where the real festivities are just beginning. The rhythm of the story's rhyming couplets adds to the upbeat nature of this work, and the descriptive language offers youngsters opportunities to make meaningful connections between the text and illustrations. By the time kids reach the story's end, they'll want to sing along with the closing song: "We love dachshunds, short and long. / They are bold, and they are strong. / They are loyal. They are proud. / They may be small, but their barks are LOUD!" Delightful dachshund facts round things off in the back matter.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2021

PreS-K-One warm, sunny day, crowds of people and small dogs swarm a nearby park to celebrate Dachshund Day. Bedecked in colorful costumes, dachshunds arrive in groups and bring smiles to the faces of all. Balloons, songs, and tasty treats abound as dachshunds and the people who love them come together to savor the sights, smells, and sounds of this fun-filled day. Digitally rendered illustrations incorporate the feeling of a sunny day through texture, shading, and warm colors. Many of the angles are low, highlighting the short stature of these iconic dogs against the legs of nearby adults. The people are depicted in a variety of skin tones; one child is using a wheelchair. The illustrations are the unquestionable focus of this story, as the brief text is carefully placed so as not to interfere with them. Singsong, rhyming couplets are found on nearly every page and are ideally suited to a preschool audience. Though the meter is not consistent from page to page, it is nonetheless an enjoyable story to read aloud. Each page features an increasing number of dachshunds, from one to twelve, reinforcing counting skills. VERDICT Those who love dachshunds will enjoy sharing this delightful story with the young children in their lives.-Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L.

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.