Hound Dawg

Vermillion (Texas Chili? Oh My!) and newcomer Pilgrim offer a Southern fried take on the story of “The Little Red Hen.” When a cornstalk sprouts on a cotton farm, Bessie the cow, Calico the cat, and Penny the hen work together to turn some of the corn into “good ol’ southern cornbread.” But Hound Dawg, who “never worked a lick,” is only interested in eating the cornbread once it’s ready. When a raccoon threatens to snag the cornbread, however, Hound Dawg proves his worth (and that he’s worth sharing the cornbread with). Vermillion packs her story with countrified turns of phrase and dialogue (“Well, shake my milk!” says Bessie as Hound Dawg chases away the raccoon) that, while entertaining, grow repetitive. Pilgrim’s illustrations include a range of media, including torn-paper and other collage elements (the farmhouse’s curtains appear to be lace doilies, fuzzy tufts of cotton dot the landscape), and she accents her animal characters with light anthropomorphic touches (Bessie wears a string of pearls). Facts about cotton and corn, as well as a cornbread recipe, cap off this lighthearted regional retelling. Ages 5–7. (Sept.)