In this follow-up to 2006's SheetzuCacaPoopoo: My Kind of Dog
, the mixed-breed, mischievous Max, who is driving his family crazy with his digging and barking, gets sent to doggy day care. Initially unhappy, Max tries his hand as a community organizer, uniting his fellow small dogs against the big bullies (“We deserve to eat at the same time as the big dogs, to nap in the sunny spots, and to get a crack at the ball,” Max shouts from his soapbox, a stack of dog dishes). When the larger dogs push back, Max shows them how useful small dogs can be—scratching hard-to-reach itches, retrieving lost toys and serving as the occasional pillow (“I guess you're worth having around after all, little guy,” says big dog Brutus). Though the story is slight, Behar's text has heart and charm—like hearing a story from a favorite if overexuberant aunt. Similarly, Barretta's characterizations can seem reminiscent of birthday party caricatures, but the artwork and story have plenty of energy. Ages 6–8. (Mar.)
