15 Things Not to Do With a Puppy by Margaret McAllister (review)

Two grinning, brown-skinned children jump for joy with their new puppy at the opening of this British import, framed as a silly how-to manual for new pet parents. There are just a few simple rules for caring for your new puppy, the narrator explains. For example, don't take your puppy hang gliding. It's also probably best to avoid letting your puppy drive the car, juggle the dishes, or do the grocery shopping. Loose watercolor and pencil illustrations supplement the minimal text with energetic spreads of the spotted, tail-wagging puppy and her human companions getting into all sorts of trouble with multicultural cast in the background. The repetition and goofy situations will make for an engaging, giggly readaloud, with a list of don'ts that blends the practical (don't walk your puppy through a football match) with the absurd (don't teach your puppy to play the tuba). A concluding list of things you should do with your puppy—cuddle her, play with her, feed her—makes this a good pick for families with new pets who are looking to give the kids some responsibility.