The Dog Encyclopedia for Kids

Gagne gathers more than 150 breeds of dogs into seven categories (“Hunting Hounds,” “Intelligent Companions,” “Independent Terriers,” etc.) that correspond to divisions established by the American Kennel Association. Each canine gets either a page or spread to itself, all of which include full-color photographs of the dogs, information about their appearance and personality, notes about training and care (“An Italian Greyhound needs a coat if it will be outdoors in the winter”), and other details. A clean design and the concise but thorough studies of each breed should appeal to casual and devoted dog-lovers alike, as will the sidebars devoted to well-known dogs and “fun facts” (“The name Shih Tzu is both singular and plural. Whether you have one dog or more, you have Shih Tzu”) scattered throughout. Ages 9–12. (Feb.)