My Dog Has Fleas: A Ukulele Misadventure

Inspired by the ukulele tuning melody “My Dog Has Fleas,” included in the front matter, this humorous narrative features a curly-haired, tan-skinned ukulele player and their unnamed spotted, floppy-eared white dog. When the dog flees with a motley pack of fellow flea-infested canine friends, the narrator plays the ukulele, which inspires them all to come rushing back after running through trees and splashing in ponds—just in time for a bath. Employing onomatopoeia and the titular refrain, Barner leads readers through a rhyming adventure: “I beg my pooch, stop running please./ Woof! Woof! Woof! My dog has fleas!” Hazy, amorphous colors rendered in soft, near-pastel hues pop against plenty of white space as fine-lined ink and Japanese brush pens outline simple, comics-style canines. A fun and instructive romp. Back matter includes ukulele anatomy, the history of the instrument, and the full song and chords. End papers feature different types of ukes and their measurements. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)