Bobo and the new neighbor
(Book)

As in Cynthia Rylant's popular Henry and Mudge series, the big, bumbling pet in this picture book is a good dog who messes up a lot. Bobo loves to be generous, but his idea of sharing involves gobbling a plateful of muffins and leaving only one half of one muffin for others. When his owner, Mrs. Birdhead, invites the new neighbor, Mrs. Wrinklerump, for tea, Bobo wants to help, but after he burns some cupcakes, he is banished outside to collect the laundry from the line. Dressed up in all the clothes, he knocks on the door, is mistaken for the new neighbor, and is treated well--until the real Mrs. Wrinklerump arrives and his disguise is revealed. The highly patterned, stylized pictures are a bit busy for the preschool audience, but they nicely echo the chaos that Bobo creates, and kids will enjoy the farcical scenarios.--Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2008 Booklist

PreS-Gr 2-The well-meaning dog whose good intentions often go awry is back in another wacky story. His mistress has invited a new neighbor to tea. When Bobo is asked to carry in the laundry from the line, he decides to wear the clothes and is accidentally mistaken by his mistress for her guest. The household's observant cat detects the misrepresentation, and Bobo ultimately shares the last muffin (cut into four pieces) when the real new neighbor arrives. The cartoon illustrations are rendered in acrylics that allow for a variety of detail in the humans' clothes, from an orange-and-wine-striped scarf to a pink-and green-checked jacket. A fun read-aloud for a group.-Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Bobo may try to be a helpful pet, but he does have a weakness for mailmen--and muffins, as he shows in Page's sequel to How to Be a Good Dog (2006). Alas, this over-eager canine is of no assistance to his owner, Mrs. Birdhead (who, in fact, wears a bird on her head), when she invites new neighbor Mrs. Wrinklerump to tea, so she sends her dog to retrieve the wash instead. Not a fan of housework, however, Bobo decides to wear these clothes and is then mistaken for the invited party guest. His innovative plan to steal refreshments is foiled when housemate Cat senses something's amiss, just as the legitimate visitor arrives. Acrylic cartoons portray the amusing animal antics, providing a wickedly ironic subtext to accompany the deadpan narration. The uncluttered illustrations featured against a variety of spacious, colored backgrounds display the zany interplay between this cat and dog. Larger-than-life Bobo and his feline companion are the driving forces in this offbeat tale. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

"As in Cynthia Rylant's popular Henry and Mudge series, the big, bumbling pet in this picture book is a good dog who messes up a lot. Bobo loves to be generous, but his idea of sharing involves gobbling a plateful of muffins and leaving only one half of one muffin for others. When his owner, Mrs. Birdhead, invites the new neighbor, Mrs. Wrinklerump, for tea, Bobo wants to help, but after he burns some cupcakes, he is banished outside to collect the laundry from the line. Dressed up in all the clothes, he knocks on the door, is mistaken for the new neighbor, and is treated well––until the real Mrs. Wrinklerump arrives and his disguise is revealed. The highly patterned, stylized pictures are a bit busy for the preschool audience, but they nicely echo the chaos that Bobo creates, and kids will enjoy the farcical scenarios." Copyright 2008 Booklist Reviews.

PreS-Gr 2—The well-meaning dog whose good intentions often go awry is back in another wacky story. His mistress has invited a new neighbor to tea. When Bobo is asked to carry in the laundry from the line, he decides to wear the clothes and is accidentally mistaken by his mistress for her guest. The household's observant cat detects the misrepresentation, and Bobo ultimately shares the last muffin (cut into four pieces) when the real new neighbor arrives. The cartoon illustrations are rendered in acrylics that allow for a variety of detail in the humans' clothes, from an orange-and-wine-striped scarf to a pink-and green-checked jacket. A fun read-aloud for a group.—Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CA