PreS-Gr 2 Marcel, a French bulldog in a snazzy sailor sweater, is a consummate New Yorker. A decidedly downtown dog with sophisticated tastes, he dines on bagels at Ruff and Sons, is pampered at Mani's Doggy Day Spa, and listens to his favorite jazz band, The Bone Daddies, in the park. Much to Marcel's chagrin, he notices his human has been spending a lot of time with a new man. The breezy, conversational narration states, "Whenever he's around we seem to spend all of our time UPTOWN. OH, IT'S DREADFUL!" The pooch puts aside his jealousy and distaste when he is smuggled inside the Museum of Natural History and gets to cavort with dinosaur bones. The challenges of adjusting to a new family member are blithely recounted: "It's different, but sometimes different&30;isn't SO bad." Akaltun's collage artwork showcases New York landmarks and bustling streetscapes. Chic and urbane, the images incorporate photographs and tend to have an adult sensibility, with close-ups of a big diamond ring and selfies taken at a gourmet coffee shop. VERDICT This pup's story has more style than substance. An additional purchase. Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ont., Canada