D is for Dog

‘A is for action… and B is for Bark. C is for catching a ball in the park…’

Every page of this delightful picturebook features a different breed of dog, one for each letter of the alphabet and all are engaged in canine activities that will delight dog-lovers of all ages. Thus ‘O is for over…’ shows an Old English Sheepdog jumping over the letter O, and ‘Q is for quietly chewing a shoe’ features a Queensland Heeler contemplating the destruction of a pair of pink stilettos. Kindness, humour and joie de vivre are in evidence throughout, and curiosity will be amply repaid. As always, Sara Ogilvie’s illustrations are full of energy and charm.

Just like the dogs themselves, Em Lynas’ rhyming text lollops along in an amiable and satisfying way. Vocabulary is friendly and accessible and provides just the right framework for Sara Ogilvie to populate with her cast of canines and their capers. One of the joys of this book (for the very young and their grown-ups alike) is the familiarity of the behaviours being depicted. We all know of a muddy, dozy or gleeful dog that flops or yawns or hides, and two end spreads are provided to help with breed identification.

Quarter-bound in a warm burnt orange which pops against cream and teal green, this beautifully designed small-format hardback sits well in the hand and features a die cut cover. Through the middle of a giant capital D (in a font called Bembo, I’m reliably informed) three dogs contemplate the reader in expectation of the fun to come. It’s a lovely way to be greeted by a book, and the typeface is perfectly chosen to bring something really satisfying to the design, so displaying this one face-out makes lots of sense.