Hello, Tobi! by Andrea Cáceres
ISBN: 1536222801
Genres: Animals, Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

There is no doubt from the brightly colored cover with a small and scruffy brown and black dog greeting the reader front and center, who Tobi is (his name tag is on his collar), and  how he makes friends (enthusiastically). Tobi and his human family ( a dad, mom and little girl; dad is light skinned and slightly scruffy, mom and little girl have light brown skin) are all are smiling and seem to invite the reader along for their daily walk in the park.

Along the way, they meet dogs and their families enjoying time together. With simple illustrations  and prose, Cáceres demonstrates that just as there are all kinds of dogs, there are all kinds of families that are loving, and worthy of love.  Digitally created, mixed media  (marker, crayon, collage) illustrations with scribblings that evoke the energy and joy that these families are experiencing together.  Families of different colors, different configurations (including “friend families”, which this reviewer found delightful), differing shapes, differently abled  — are all seen enjoying various activities together.

Tobi is friendly and welcoming to all these families, and the families return his affection. It’s an uncomplicated story that is open in its message of inclusion and toward our fellow humans (and their dogs). Highly recommended to read aloud  with Todd Parr’s The Family Book, at the beginning of the school year, when young children are learning that loving families are not all alike, and that is a beautiful thing.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools