1 August 2022 TWO DOGS by Ian Falconer, HarperCollins/Michael Di Capua, June 2022, 40p., ISBN: 978-0-06-295447-3

“‘How can we open the door?!’

Perry started barking at the lock. 

That didn’t work.

‘Stop jumping, Perry. I’ll do it.

Augie neatly flipped the lock.

First thing they did was water the mother’s new flowers.

They found some raccoon poop and happily rolled around in it.“

Can you believe it’s now 22 years since OLIVIA–Ian Falconer’s pig character that grew into a TV show–burst onto the publishing scene? Falconer’s latest out-of-this-world picture book is a blast! 

TWO DOGS brings to life a pair of fun-loving dachshunds named Perry and Augie. One day, the pair figure out how to escape the house in which they are always stuck while the humans are all off at work and school. (Augie stands up on his hind legs, atop Perry’s back, and unlocks the back door.) They proceed to use the swings, the seesaw, and–yes–the pool. Then they have themselves a grand dig. Eventually, when they hear the car arriving home, they lock themselves back inside and fool the mother with an award-winning act that actually earns them treats!

You’ve got to see the expressions on the faces of these two canine jokesters. Falconer captures the doggedness of the pair while portraying Augie as the generally-more-apprehensive mutt while Perry is the all over the place one. 

I can’t wait for more adventures featuring this dog-namic duo.

Richie Partington, MLIS

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