K-Gr 2-An amiable, rambling story that has more charm than plot. Narrated by a dog named Bejinhos, which means "Little Kisses" in Brazil, the tale takes children through a day in the life of a pet and his girl, Jolie. The two friends get up, talk, try on clothes, eat, brush their teeth, and take a walk. A cautionary refrain, "Those are the rules," is brought home when Bejinhos gets into a serious scrape while Jolie is at school. This would be a story to smile at and pass by if not for the eye-catching, cuddly watercolor illustrations. Downing captures the pup's adoring enthusiasm, and readers will want to take him home. The real Bejinhos, though, belongs to Jolie Jones, daughter of musician Quincy Jones and a singer/producer as well as a writer.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A pup named Bejinhos-Brazilian for "little kisses"-narrates this tale of his life with beloved owner Jolie (which "means pretty in France"). As long as he's with her, Bejinhos behaves ("Those are the rules" becomes a kind of refrain) and life is grand. But when Jolie goes to school, Bejinhos soon breaks the rule about staying in his own yard. Lost on the streets, he wonders if he'll ever see his owner again-a fear that's quickly put to rest when Jolie finds him. Jones's literal, often ham-fisted prose ("It's fun having friends!") and disjointed narrative nearly sinks the book. The author spends several pages establishing a cosmopolitan community of pooches with multicultural names such as "Nani" ("beautiful in Hawaii") and "Kibawa" ("little brother in Africa"), and then shifts gears completely from this promising idea, in favor of Bejinhos's solitary adventure. Downing's (The Firekeeper's Son) velvety pastels effectively evoke a sense of place and mood, especially when Bejinhos is in peril. But unfortunately even she can't seem to give the canine hero a distinctive personality, or convey much of a bond between Jolie and Bejinhos. Ages 3-6. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Bejinhos, a small dog, usually follows the rules: stay in the yard, don't take treats from strangers, etc. But when his loving mistress goes to school, Bejinhos digs under the fence and gets lost. The sentimental story, accompanied by pleasant watercolor illustrations, feels disjointed and is too easily resolved when Bejinhos is quickly found. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.