This comedic adventure by Beck (Buttercup's Lovely Day
) stars a “pedigreed pooch” who is preparing for the poodle championships. Pierre's training includes sessions on the treadmill, show-dog classes and visits to the pet parlor, but he would rather be running around and playing outside with the other dogs. At the championships, Pierre slips out an open door and “followed his nose to the nearest park.” Though he has fun getting down and dirty with his new pals—chasing squirrels and rolling in “anything he pleased”—he misses Miss Murphy, his beloved owner, and finally makes his way back to her. Kids will get a kick out of Miss Murphy's poodlesque tresses as well as Pierre's transformation into “a glorious mess” during his time on the streets, which Beck depicts in copious detail in both text and art: “He was covered in garbage—chocolate syrup, chewing gum, fish guts and fries, bottle caps, bits of paper, spaghetti and cheese...” (the list goes on). Beck trots out a time-tested theme—there is indeed no place like home—and executes it with pizzazz. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)
