Zoomer

Zoomer looks to be a beagle, but from the front cover, which shows him pouring bubble bath into a backyard inflatable pool, it’s clear he has some very human abilities. In Young’s lively picture-book debut, Zoomer’s dad and two brothers try to get him ready for school. But he has other plans, starting with jumping on his bed and acting like a superhero called “Power Puppy.” He then proceeds to blow bubbles out of a tuba, build a castle out of dog food, and create a brontosaurus out of sand. Young’s illustrations are bright and detailed, with an appealing retro feel. He throws in plenty of whimsical asides (like the bird bowling happening on a limb outside the window), but it’s Zoomer’s imagination and resourcefulness that are the focus. When it turns out that it’s Saturday—not a school day at all—young readers will cheer on Zoomer even more. The last picture shows Zoomer and his family enjoying a day off courtesy of a colossal slide that ends in their backyard pool. Grades K-2. --Abby Nolan