Starred Review In this amusing picture book, a little boy introduces his amiable pet. "Like all dogs, Bob loves breakfast," the boy says, adding, "Sometimes he makes it himself." An illustration shows the aproned dog standing at the kitchen counter, cracking an egg into a bowl and saying, "Eggs for Jeff. Pancakes for Mom and Dad. Ham for me." Similarly, this dog enjoys riding in the family car, but he really prefers driving. His idea of fun with a ball is playing golf. Unlike other dogs, he won't fetch sticks or respond to commands such as "sit" or "speak," but even when a neighbor gloats about her dog's apparent superiority, the boy reassures Bob that it's okay. The child narrator makes short statements in a matter-of-fact voice, while speech balloons carry conversations and other remarks. The words and pictures have different roles to play, and their juxtaposition creates the story's understated but very accessible humor. Simply drawn in oil pencil and brightened with watercolors, Torrey's expressive, cartoonlike illustrations contribute greatly to the book's tone, combining wit with affection. Whether Bob's feats are seen as real or imagined, this charmer of a picture book, reminiscent of Norman Bridwell's original Clifford the Big Red Dog (1973), is great fun for reading aloud.

PreS-Gr 1 Bob is an amazing dog. He can cook breakfast, drive a car, play golf, and dig for dinosaur bones. When neighbor Mimi comes over singing the praises of her dog Truffles, Jeff has to agree that Bob can't hold a candle to Truffles when it comes to fetching a stick, sitting, and barking. So it goes that Mimi believes that her dog is the best, but in the end it is Jeff and his family who are enjoying a delicious pizza made by Bob. This humorous story is great for beginning readers. The bright cartoon illustrations follow the text perfectly and will catch the eye of any child. VERDICT A fun addition to any collection. Betsy Davison, Cortland Free Library, NY