1 August 2018 HERE, GEORGE! (Board Book) by Sandra Boynton and George Booth, ill., Little Simon, May 2018, 32p., ISBN: 978-1-5344-2964-2

“All we need is music, sweet music.

There’ll be music everywhere.

There’ll be swinging and swaying and records playing

Dancing in the street.”

-- Marvin Gaye, William ‘Mickey’ Stevenson, and Ivy Jo Hunter (1964)

There are generations of stories and jokes about what the kids or the pets do while the parents are away. Sandra Boynton’s new board book HERE, GEORGE! is a delightful example.

George is a big, old dog who, despite the encouragement of the human parents and child, just sits around all day. But, then, when the humans go away…

“George is feeling a little glum.

He lies down. He closes his eyes.

Outside, some wild music begins to play.

George opens his eyes. He likes music.

Now George is sitting.

Now George is standing.

Now George is dancing. And dancing. And dancing.

Until he can dance no longer.”

Of course, when the humans return, George, again, does not move...except for his happy tail.

I love the illustrations by veteran New Yorker cartoonist George Booth. George the dog has such a blissful look on his face as he’s dancing. Then, when “he can dance no longer,” George looks absolutely ready to pass out, lying on his back, his tongue hanging out, and his eyes staring blankly.

This one’s a total crack-up.

Richie Partington, MLIS

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