Lucy Comes to Stay

Mary Elizabeth is delighted to be given a puppy, a small scrap of a Westie called Lucy, but, as these brief vignettes eloquently illustrate, she must learn that looking after a pet is not always easy. In rapid succession Lucy manages to chew up a new pair of shoes, cover her face in blue ink and tumble into a bubble bath. Given patience and understanding, however, she and Mary Elizabeth are soon the best of friends. Gentle, dreamy oil paintings match the quietly lyrical mood of the text, their subdued palette enlivened by dashes of light. A wispy Lucy and her angel-faced owner are the illustrations' central focus, while background details fade into a mist. This warm and simple picture book by the author of the Max and Ruby books conjures up a classic childhood experience, then imbues it with the cozy familiarity of a favorite pair of slippers. Ages 5-8. (June)