Hound from the Pound by Jessica Swaim, Jill McElmurry
Published by HarperCollins US on April 5, 2023
ISBN: 0358622204
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Miss Mary Lynn MacIntosh lives alone, and she’s feeling like her life is missing something. She visits the local dog shelter and adopts a Bassett Hound named Blue. She’s told he’s the only dog in the shelter that isn’t well trained, but she knows there’s something special about him. When they get home, Blue begins baying (as hounds do), and his calls are answered by all the other dogs from the shelter. Her house is overrun by dogs, but she can’t bear to give them back. She asks Sam, who works at the shelter, to help her train them. Sam does, and in the process of training the dogs, Sam and Mary fall in love. The story ends with them and their enormous pack living and thriving happily under one roof.

This is a fun and entertaining read that will please young dog lovers, and the rhyming text makes it a great option for story time. The illustrations are done by Jill McElmurry, known for the Little Blue Truck series, and her work here does not disappoint. The dogs are portrayed in colorful and humorous ways. Their facial expressions really help to bring the story and the hijincks to life. The romantic connection between Mary and Sam feels completely unnecessary, unexpected (not in a good way), and forced. The story is lighthearted, whimsical, and humorous, and suddenly we’re at a wedding, then the story ends. Aside from the unfortunate ending, this is a fun read. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME