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PICTURE BOOKS
Brockington, Drew

Puppy Bus

40 pp. | Abrams | July, 2022 | Trade ISBN 978-1-41975-191-2 $17.99 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-64700-701-0 $15.54
(2) K-3 Heading to the first day at a new school, this story's young narrator boards the bus looking glum and apprehensive. Typical concerns about different teachers and friends are quickly overshadowed by a more immediate problem: "I'm on the wrong bus! AUGHHH!!!" And that's not the only issue: this bus is filled with puppies instead of children, and the oblivious (human) driver drops everyone off at puppy school. The ridiculous canine twist addresses familiar new-kid/first-day anxieties and insecurities with humor and understanding. The narrator's remark that "everything about this school is strange and different" will resonate with anyone who's been in a similarly disorienting situation. ­Brockington's spirited cartoonlike art is in on the joke: there's the all-dog cast's speech bubbles ("Woof + Woof = ?"), dog food for lunch ("disgusting"), and a fire hydrant instead of a toilet in the bathroom stall. When things seem the most hopeless for our protagonist, a few friendly (furry) faces and recess help make puppy school more welcoming. "Maybe this school isn't so bad after all." And hopefully that's what young readers embarking on new adventures will carry with them. Also, make sure you're on the right bus.
Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

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