Two Delights

A Pet for Fly Guy, written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold.  Fly Guy and his human owner Buzz have enjoyed major success as an easy reader series for years now.  Now they make their Picture Book Debut (cue trumpets) and the results are hilarious.  We see the inseparable couple playfully head off to enjoy a picnic in the park.  And in the park they see a bunch of people with their pets.  And in Tedd Arnold's wacky world, these are not ordinary pets, but kids hanging out such creatures as an octopus or a porcupine.  Fly Guy realizes that he too would like to pet, so it's off to the pet store.  Which pet will Fly Guy choose?  The story reaches a delightfully odd conclusion that is truly inspired.  I read to this several groups and the kids loved it.  Pair it up with Arnold's No Jumping on the Bed! and Huggly Takes a Bath.

Number One Sam, written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli.  The 2014 Geisel winner (The Watermelon Seed) is back with this charmer about a race car-loving dog (team him up with Hot Rod Hamster, written by Cynthia Lord and illustrated by Derek Anderson) who loves to win!  Sam experiences extreme existential angst when he--gasps!--loses a race.  He spirals into the doldrums.  What I love about this book is its twist towards the end, which I do not want to spoil.  Let's just say this is bibliotherapy at its best, that Sam learns a lesson about the importance of doing good deeds, that some things are more important than winning, in a clever, sweet, child-friendly manner.  Go Sam Go!!!