cover image A Dog Day

A Dog Day

Emily Rand. Tate (Abrams, dist.), $18.95 (32p) ISBN 978-1-84976-290-8

In her first picture book, British artist Rand creates a sympathetic surrogate for impatient children in the form of a curly-haired terrier, out on a walk with his owner: "The park's just there, behind that wall./ I hope that he has brought my ball./ But hold on wait.../ there's the gate!%E2%80%9D While these and other rhymes aren't particularly distinctive, it's easy to sink into the details and textures of Rand's handsome illustrations, drafted in blacks and grays on off-white stock. After they bypass the park, much to the dog's dismay, they travel through streets crowded with fashionably dressed men and women, friendly children, shops, and cafes. "He always has to stop and talk./ "I thought that we were on a walk,%E2%80%9D moans the dog, facing away from readers as he stares out from inside a hardware store; the park across the street, where a black dog roams free, is tantalizingly, infuriatingly close. While it's clear that it's all about the destination for this dog (and, yes, he finally gets to enjoy the park), the quaint urban setting makes the journey worthwhile. For readers, anyhow. Ages 2%E2%80%934. (Mar.)