Howler

Rosen’s dog’s eye view of the world returns, and this time our canine hero tries to make sense of the arrival of a baby within his pet family. His amusing tricks no longer command the attention of Rover, Cindie, Trixie and Rex. There is only one thing for it of course, a little hanky panky with lady friend ‘Ruff-ruff’, and lo and behold, the arrival of a basket full of rufflets works wonders in regaining centre stage. A four-legged perspective on the unfolding dramas comes to life through Rosen’s brisk, no nonsense text, and Layton’s crude but very funny illustrations. These pictures display a complete lack of interest in drawing in the academic sense, and yet contain a sophisticated awareness of design and colour, and a pleasingly rich sense of pattern and texture. Author and illustrator complement each other nicely in this witty and knowing production.