It’s Duffy Time!

The creators of The Napping House offer an affectionate portrait of Duffy, a good-natured, chronically sleepy pug inspired by one of their own pets. Given the emphasis on Duffy’s fondness for napping, the story is rather short on action. Between naps—there are seven throughout the day—Duffy makes a couple of outings with his owners: during a trip to the bank Duffy inexplicably wears a pirate costume (to be fair, he looks none too happy about it), and the family later takes a postprandial walk in the park. Don Wood includes images of various clocks into his paintings, indicating the hours at which Duffy naps and adding an opportunity for readers to practice telling time. The Woods’ light story closes with a dab of irony, as Duffy snuggles with his best girl for a bedtime story (they wear matching striped pajamas) and “doesn’t feel sleepy at all.” Pug lovers young and old will likely be the most enthusiastic audience for this tale, and they’ll see plenty of their own pets in Duffy, whether he’s at play or at rest. Ages 3–7. (Oct.)