A Small Brown Dog with a Wet Pink Nose

Undaunted by her parents' objections (“We're just not ready for a dog”), Amelia develops a plan to acquire a pooch, then works it with finesse. She invents an imaginary dog named Bones (seen in a dotted outline), spends a week coaching her parents through imaginary dog ownership (“Shut the door so Bones won't get out!”), then “loses” him. From there, it's a short trip to the shelter to look for Bones—and, lo and behold, there he is (“[I]f anybody asks, your name is Bones,” she whispers to her dream dog after her parents cave). Though newcomer Hunter's digitally created paper doll–like figures don't attract much visual interest, smart use of small details conveys Amelia's dog-obsessed home life. Inset panels and vignettes liven up the pages, too, along with occasional typographic accents. “We may never be ready, but Amelia certainly is,” says her mother, summing up the loving parental acceptance that Stuve-Bodeen (the Elizabeti's Doll books) captures so nicely. While Amelia's airtight logic might not work in real life, young readers will enjoy participating in her success. Ages 3–6. (Jan.)