Floaty by John Himmelman (review)

Solitary old Mr. Raisin doesn't like anything but sewing, so it's definitely an unwelcome disruption when a puppy is left on his front step. Worse still, this puppy floats, so Mr. Raisin has to problem-solve feeding (tossing cornflakes to the pup mid-air) and watering (a hose does the trick), and it's vital to keep Floaty, as he names the puppy, on leash during walks. The leash breaks one day one day, leaving Floaty adrift in the sky—can Mr. Raisin's sewing skills help him come to the rescue? Himmelman demonstrates his usual mastery of a compact comic premise, and the dialogue-rich text offers appeal to new readers as well as readaloud listeners. Mr. Raisin is a little slow off the mark in his rescue effort, but his delay adds suspense, and his gradual attachment to his pet follows a satisfyingly familiar trajectory. Bold black lines make the figures in the digital illustrations stand out, while touches of patterning add texture to the interiors. Simple, clearly printed text makes this suitable for early reading alone as well as reading aloud, and Up fans will especially appreciate the comic flight of a cute pup. DS