From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2—Young Madeleine and her loyal pup, Carl, are up to their same tricks in this charming addition to a whimsical series. Mom and Dad are busy preparing the summer cabin for company later in the evening, and they leave the pair in a hammock on the back porch. Immediately upon hearing Mom say, "You two have a good nap so you'll be ready to go see the fireworks tonight," Carl and his devoted sidekick decide to go exploring. It is here that the text stops, for the most part. Richly detailed and beautifully hued illustrations depict the duo's adventures: a canoe ride that includes a stop by a flowering lily pad; a romp through wild blackberry bushes where they come upon a highly protective mama skunk; a stop at the playground where Carl joins a baseball game, and more. They return to the hammock just in time to be "awakened" by Mom. Madeleine falls asleep in her father's arms during the vibrantly depicted fireworks show, leaving her parents to wonder why she was so tired after having had such a long nap. A strong, solid addition.—
Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Carl the rottweiler and his family are at their cottage by the lake. Mom tells her young daughter and Carl to take a nap, but the two have other plans. They ride in a canoe, get sprayed by a skunk, and find a playground, a baseball game, and a boat race before heading home. Mom is surprised they are so tired after their nap. Although some may find it disconcerting to see such a young child on her own (capable Carl notwithstanding), the attraction, as always, is the evocative watercolor art, coupled here with the fantasy of having secret fun. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Ilene Cooper
