I Am the Longest Dog by Avery Monsen (review)

onsen, Avery I Am the Longest Dog; written and illus. by Avery Monsen. Little, 2021 [48p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781368053211 $17.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 3-5 yrs

You may have seen some long dogs in your time, but none as long as Lucy, who is longer than "a stretch limo," "a big blue whale," or even "a stretch limo for the big blue whale so he can drive around and go to parties and stuff." She admits her length has some downsides—no car rides, for instance—but overall she loves it. This is a neatly silly concept, and Lucy's narration is amusing and quippy, with some rib-nudging humor ("Classic long dog joke"). Digital illustrations carry a lot of the comedy as the text spools out over the reveals of Lucy's seemingly neverending middle, speech bubbles and signs add jokes, and Lucy's front finally turns up as it sniffs at a strange dog's butt—which turns out to be her own. Older kids who appreciate the absurdity of the humor will find this a terrific readaloud to younger sprouts, and those still beguiled by lengthy dogs may want to look back to the Reys' Pretzel.