Chowder

Chowder is a bulldog who doesn't fit in with other dogs in the neighborhood. They think he is weird. Actually, the only creatures who don't find Chowder strange are his owners, Madge and Bernie Wubbington. Perhaps we should call them Chowder's human companions. Anyway, Chowder seems happier doing human things and playing with human toys-surfing the Internet and using Bernie's telescope. Finally, Chowder finds a group of animals to befriend at a local petting zoo. After blowing an opportunity to play with them in their first encounter, Chowder redeems himself with his new friends.

This might be a good book to read to a child who, like Chowder, also doesn't quite fit in-perhaps as a bit of what is known as bibliotherapy. It could also be used to show children that being different and having unusual interests can be a positive thing. A number of the illustrations were drawn from interesting perspectives, but other than that, the graphics are run of the mill. On the negative side, I found this book fairly humorless and a bit didactic. Perhaps that is because, beneath the pictures of dogs and other animals, this is a serious story.