RRRalph by Lois Ehlert

Ehlert returns with another cleverly illustrated book, this time featuring a dynamic dog.  Ralph is a dog who is able to talk.  No, really!  When they brought him home and asked him his name, he replied with “RRRalph Ralph.”  He can tell you where he is when he climbs up on his doghouse: “Roof roof.”  Just ask him what is on the outside of a tree, and he knows that it’s BARK.  The book continues with more questions for Ralph and him answering them with a variety of barks, until at the end, he only replies with a snore since he’s fallen asleep.

The book has a great sense of humor and after the first couple of examples of how Ralph replies to questions, children will be trying to guess the next answers that Ralph will give.  The dynamic color combinations of the backgrounds with the pop of black-and-white dog on them add to the fun.  Ehlert excels at her illustrations done using collage and found objects.  The can tab nose gives Ralph a jaunty friendly feel, as does the colorful collar and heart-shaped tag. 

A dog book that is barking up just the right tree for young children, this book belong on every library’s shelves and adds to the incredible body of Ehlert’s work.  Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from library copy.