I'm a Baked Potato!

"You're my little baked potato," the lady in this story coos at her new brown terrier, inspired both by his appearance and her favorite food. The endearment soon morphs into the dog's actual name, which is all well and good until owner and dog are accidentally separated. Alone in the big wide world, Baked Potato begins to realize that maybe he's not a baked potato after all. But what is he? A big mean dog insists he's a groundhog; a hungry fox sees a delicious bunny. It takes a wise, protective owl to explain to Baked Potato that he is actually a dog, that dogs "are very good at finding things, especially with their noses," and that home and his beloved owner are well within reach. Most readers will be well acquainted with the improbable nicknames people come up with for their pets (not to mention their favorite people), and if Primavera (Auntie Claus) stretches that idea a little thin by having the hound conflate his nickname with reality, the perky protagonist, swooping digital ink lines, and bright colors by Medina (Juana and Lucas) should be engaging enough to see the story through to its happy ending by a cozy fire. Ages 3-5. (May)

PreS-Gr 1-A small dog finds himself the companion of a lady who loves to eat baked potatoes. She loves them so much that she decides to call him Baked Potato. One day, the pup ventures outside and ends up lost. He encounters a mean blue dog, a wily fox, and a very smart owl. The wise owl tells him that canines are very adept at using their noses, and the small dog finds his way home. Thinking he actually is a baked potato, the protagonist struggles to figure out who he really is, giving this cute story a much deeper and more meaningful subtext about identity and discovering where one might belong. The illustrations of the book are truly the shining star, with Medina's art visually propelling the story. The keen details, down to the baked potato bed spread, swoop and swirl across the pages evoking warmth and inviting discovery. The wise old owl who mentors the dog is a familiar trope, giving the story a comforting fairy tale feel. VERDICT The little dog's journey of discovery is a classic tale with a fun baked potato update, complete with lovely illustrations. A fun addition to any collection.-Kaitlin Malixi, Kensington Health Sciences Academy, Philadelphia