Help Find Frank

Bollman’s debut introduces a bow-tie-wearing French bulldog through a sequence of “exhibits” elucidating his personality: “Exhibit E: Frank loves to play fetch, but he skips the part where he brings the ball back.” When Frank dashes after a truck, readers are tasked with finding him, following a map of the neighborhood and clues that kids provide. Stops at a park and baseball field reveal Frank’s paw prints, but the dog is nowhere to be seen. The author supplies a checklist of items to locate in these bustling scenarios, as well as on the spread that finally reveals Frank’s whereabouts (a pool, where he contentedly floats in a swan-shaped tube). Like its protagonist, the text wanders at times: there’s an extraneous visit to a store to buy Frank a toy, for example. Featuring an animated cartoon vibe, Bollman’s crisp, crayon-colored pictures show the objects to spot in plain sight, keeping the challenge to a minimum. A good choice for children on the younger end of the targeted age group. Ages 3–7. (May)