cover image No Room for Napoleon

No Room for Napoleon

Adria Meserve, . . FSG, $16 (24pp) ISBN 978-0-374-35536-4

Considering all the lore about his egotistical namesake, it's fitting that Napoleon, of the dachshund variety, is "a small brown dog with very big ideas" in this perky picture book about respect and friendship. Adventure-seeking Napoleon spots a perfect paradise island from his boat one day and rows ashore to receive a warm welcome from islanders Crab, Bunny and Bear. But Napoleon soon wears out any goodwill when he begins barking orders to the new friends he has enlisted to build him a grand island home. Fed up with seeing Napoleon live a selfish dog's life, Crab, Bunny and Bear sail off to better, boss-free days on a nearby island. Napoleon recognizes his faux-paw and finds a way to make amends. With consistent underlying humor, and a good sense of children's emotional range, Meserve's (Smog the City Dog ) characters entertainingly play out several life lessons. Her gouache-mixed-media illustrations exude a sly silliness and bright-eyed, waggy-tail energy. Napoleon's "I'm the king of the castle!" cover pose, replete with gold crown, will not be soon forgotten. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)