This Is a Dog Book! But there’s a bunny on the cover. Can he be a dog too? He wants to be. And, perhaps more importantly, he brought cookies. Does that mean he can be a dog?

The dogs talk among themselves and decide the best way to decide on this important conundrum is to ask the bunny some questions.

Do you like to run and catch a ball? He says yes.

Do you like being scratched behind your ears? He says, “Who doesn’t?”

And then they ask the big question: Do you smell the doo-doo? The bunny hesitates. He offers them more cookies.

After more questions and learning more about the bunny, the dogs realize that it’s more important to them if the bunny is a good friend, more important than his liking lettuce for a treat or not smelling the doo-doo.

Author Judith Henderson has written a fun and charming book that kids will love for the pure joy of it (especially the use of highly technical childhood terms like “cookies” and “doo-doo”). But at the same time, they’ll be learning about how it’s what’s on the inside that really matters in deciding whether to make someone a friend or not. Illustrator Julien Chung adds to the whimsy and humor of This Is a Dog Book! with his delightful drawings and the high energy of the red in the art.

This Is a Dog Book! is a wonderful, witty, whimsical celebration of friendship and inclusivity, and it will delight children of all ages. This will be a fantastic gift for anyone you want to make say “doo-doo” over and over and over as their child(ren) asks mom or dad to read it again and again and again.

Egalleys for This Is a Dog Book! were provided by Kids Can Press through Edelweiss, with many thanks.