Little Dogs Say "Rough!" - Hardcover

Rick Walton became a children's writer because, after trying almost every other career in the book, he finally realized that writing for kids was one of the few things that he both enjoyed and was good at. Since that realization he has had over forty books published, with many more scheduled for publication over the next couple of years. His works include picture books, riddle books, activity books, a collection of poetry, and educational and game software. His books have been featured on the IRA Children's Choice list, on Reading rainbow, and on CBS This Morning.

Rick lives in Provo, Utah, with his wife, Ann, the brains of the household, who also writes for kids, programs computers, masters Rick's website, and does all the home repair that Rick never learned how to do. It was Ann, who grew up in a computer family and who has eight siblings and a father in the computer industry, who dragged Rick kicking and screaming into the computer age. Now Rick doesn't understand how anyone can survive without word-processing programs, e-mail, and their own website.

They have four children, all of whom are learning to love reading, writing, and computers.

PreSchool-K-Walton's wacky wordplay twists the typical noises associated with different animals to create rhyming phrases that describe their often unusual activities. From kissing snakes to hungry vultures, rough-and-tumble puppies to astronaut cows, these cartoon-style creatures will prompt giggles and grins from young listeners. "Little horses say,/'Nay! Nay!/You can't ride on us today!'" Still, some of the rhymes seem forced ("Little lambs say,/'Maaa! Maaa!/Mom, we want something to gnaw!"). Cole's comical illustrations, rendered in acrylic paints and colored pencils, add to the book's appeal. The animals' expressive faces are clearly the focus of the simply composed pictures. Humorous details like the flowered swim cap on a mother bird or the pink-and-blue blankets covering the sleepy snakes give the book a goofy charm. There's no real story to speak of, and the brevity of the text makes it a quick read, but this book is sure to be a storytime hit. Older listeners might even be inspired to adapt other noises to create their own ridiculous rhymes.
Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
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