Readers learn along with Rafi and Rosi as they explore bomba, plena, and salsa in three chapters. The fourth installment in Delacre’s early-reader series centers on the rich musical traditions of Puerto Rico, once again featuring sibling tree frogs Rafi and Rosi Coquí.

Music takes center stage and bullies get properly pun-ished in this hearty and wholesome howl. Haley slips those lines, along with references to “Jowlene” and “I will pawlways love you,” into painted scenes of an all-dog-or-Dolly cast set against swirls of music and simply drawn backdrops. After a “ruff day” in which being scorned by big dogs for not being a “true muttropolitan” leaves him feeling “lower than a stick on the ground,” he eats some flowers, strums some tunes, forms a band with a trio of little dogs, and, after sending the big pooches packing, trots out a “pawsome” performance at the “Battle of the Bow-Wows.” And from there it’s on to the Grand Ole Opry to hear his big-haired favorite singer warble out lines from her song “Makin’ Fun Ain’t Funny,” about celebrating differences rather than mocking them. Inspired by musical dreams, Billy heads for Nashville. Promising at the outset that this is just the first of a series of adventures starring her beloved “god-dog,” Parton goes on to hit all the conventional thematic notes.

In this picture book from singer Parton and co-author Perl, a small French bulldog goes to Nashville, joins a band, fends off bullies, and meets one of the queens of country music. This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English ( Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room-but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.

Dog days by karen english