"The traffic around here can get busy.
Pawcasso is a genius! He knows how
to use the pedestrian crossing!
Would you let the dog go with a
warning? Joe will let her parents know.
And I'll leash him! Please let him go.
Okay, I'm letting him go this time.
The next time I see him off-leash ...
... he will go to the pound!"
As summer vacation begins, Jo is feeling very lonely. When she sees a dog walk past her carrying a shopping basket, she is surprised and curious. She follows him, and watches as he stops at a variety of stores and is given whatever is on his shopping list. How can that be? At the last place left to shop, some of Jo's schoolmates see her and assume the dog is hers. She tries to dissuade them, but they don't listen to what she is saying.
Wanting to make new friends, Jo allows them to believe the dog is hers. They want to use the dog as a model in their art class; and she tells them his name is Pawcasso. As the community at large becomes more and more interested in the 'shopping dog', the deception compounds. Jo is uncomfortable with the lies, but unsure of a way out.
The artwork engages readers with the story. The bold colors, the cast of characters, Pawcasso's personality and prowess, the expressions always on display, and the unfolding events hold attention and carry readers forward. In the end, though telling the truth causes hurt and embarrassment, it is the right thing to do and results in a few surprises.
Oh, and the dog? He's a wonder!
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