Cookie the Walker by Chris Monroe (review)

Cookie the dog discovers that she can walk on her hind legs, a skill that provides her with access to the family’s candy dish, the ice maker on the fridge, and damp towels on the bathroom rack. Her newfound talent also puts Cookie on the road to stardom—a gig with a local dog show leads to a spot in a circus which leads to her own TV show—but she soon finds that fame is just a weary treadmill trot, as each performance must outdo the one before. Her pal Kevin is saddened by Cookie’s distress and suggests that the solution is as simple as putting all four feet on the floor. When Cookie’s Hollywood producer spies her “standing down,” he is horrified and fires her on the spot, much to Cookie’s and Kev’s delight—although Cookie continues to occasionally make use of her ability to procure candy, “unattended bacon,” or “an extra-fluffy towel.” Monroe proves here again that she is a master of understated absurdity and quirky humor, and Monkey with a Tool Belt (BCCB 6/08) fans will be right at home with wide-eyed, perky-eared Cookie. The amusingly goofy text and absurd asides will appeal to a wide age range of kids. Monroe’s detailed illustrations, which frequently utilize comics-like panels and word balloons, have a squiggly, childlike look that is both endearing and humorous. Gray Cookie, with her oversized head, hot pink collar, and penchant for snacks, is a fetching leading lady, and one can only hope that we haven’t seen the last of her yet.