Canus Bibliophilus: Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates

DOG LOVES BOOKS.

HE LOVES THE SMELL OF THEM.

AND HE LOVES THE FEEL OF THEM.

HE LOVES EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM . . .

HE LOVES THEM SO MUCH THAT HE DECIDES TO OPEN HIS OWN BOOKSTORE.

It's the dream of many a bibliophile--your own little bookshop with your favorite kind of volumes in a charming setting, filled with other book lovers who can't wait to buy!

Dog fills the downstairs of his little house with shelves, orders the books to stock them, lovingly sets them out, adorns the door with bright balloons and his OPEN sign, and sits down to wait for the flood of patrons.

But nobody comes in.

Dog decides to pass the time with some tea, and just as he comes back with a tea tray with a small pot and his cup, a lady comes in. A customer at last!

The lady ignores the books, but eyes his fragrant tea tray.

"I'LL HAVE A TEA WITH MILK AND TWO SUGARS," SHE SAID.

To Dog's dismay, she leaves in a huff when he has to tell her he sells books, not tea. Then his hopes rise as a well-dressed gentleman hurries in. But he is anything but a book buyer; all he wants are directions to his destination.

Dog is downhearted and alone, so he does what he always does when he's sad or lonely. He begins to read. And as he reads, he is no longer alone, but friended by Jurassic raptors from his book of Dinosaurs, Mama Kanga and Joey Roo from his Marvelous Marsupials, and futuristic extraterrestrials from his copy of Time Travels.

And when customers begin to trickle through his door, Dog already knows which book will fit their needs--beginning with a Book of Ballet for a young would-be dancer. Dog loves books and he loves finding just the right one for others who need them.

In Dog Loves Books (Alfred A. Knopf, 2010), author Louise Yates' charmingly simple pencil and watercolor illustrations, set against creamy paper stock, tells this story in modest, unassuming language, letting the elegant little drawings create the mood of this witty and engaging little story which illustrates the joy of reading.

Pair this one with Barbara Bottner's Miss Brooks Loves Books (And I Don't) (see my recent review here) for a great back-to-school read-aloud duo.