Fetch

In Nest, Hurley offered a close study of a robin family and its habitat; here, she takes a more playful tack, following a dog’s pursuit of a ball at the beach, while maintaining the aesthetic precision of the previous book. Expanses of creamy blue and taupe instantly establish the seaside setting, and Hurley again keeps her text to one word per scene: a vertically oriented spread that reads “swim” shows the dog paddling after the ball while clownfish dart below. Seals, gulls, and even a shark make appearances, but the dog’s joyful frolics are the story’s focus and delight. Ages 3–7. Agent: Laurie Abkemeier, DeFiore and Company. (Feb.)