Sample Annotation:

Auch, Mary Jane. The Latchkey Dog; illus by Cat Bowman Smith. Little 1994, 120pp.

When Sam's mother went back to work, no one expected their dog Amber to be such a problem. The neighbor's complained about Amber's continued barking and Sam's solution to leave the TV and loud rock music on all day wasn't the answer. It was Mom's decision that a new home be found for Amber. With time working against him, Sam enlisted the help of his best friend Jamie in keeping Amber at home. Their wacky schemes included using the Anderson's cat to teach Amber how to sleep all day. Except the Anderson's cat was terrified of Amber. Feeding Amber dog biscuits as a reward for keeping quiet only resulted in one very sick dog. Sam hoped that Jamie would take Amber but his psychologist father was so afraid of pets that he only allowed Jamie to keep a Venus Fly Trap plant. Their most hair-brained idea of keeping Amber up all night so he would sleep all day was intercepted by Sam's mom. Convinced that Sam and his little sister Maxie were in need of supervision, she enrolled them both in Happy Days Day Care. While at first this seemed to Sam like the final insult, it was in fact the solution to his problem. The day care had a number of elderly people in the senior room and Amber's presence cheered many of them. Sam became an instant hit with the younger kids because he could read them stories. Amber and Sam became "volunteers"--a role they both assumed with great pride.

The difficulties that often arise with single-parent working mothers is treated with sensitivity and humor in this spirited story. The lively dialogue and theme of a "homeless dog" will quickly draw in the reader. Sam's attempts to find Amber a home ring true and the credible ending brings satisfaction. Cat Bowman Smith's drawings extend the story's humor.

Interest Level 3-5. Reading Level 4.6. Further search topics: Dogs--Fiction, Single Parent Family--Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Read Aloud.

Editors of Choices:

Shawn Brommer, Julie Cummins, Blair Cummins, Beverley Fahey, Carolyn Sherwood Flemming, Peg Glisson, Louise Kanaley, Geri Krim, Sandy Mittelman, Sharon Salluzzo, Donna Schatt, Carolyn Vang Schuler, Maureen Whalen.

Editors' Institution Affiliations: Allendale Columbia School, Rochester, New York; Brighton (New York) School District; Dewitt Road Elementary School, Webster, New York; Far Rockaway High School, Far Rockaway, New York; Monroe County Library System, Rochester, New York; New York Public Library; Penfield (New York) Public Library; Russell Sage Junior High School, Forest Hills, New York; Rochester (New York) Public Library; Southern Tier (New York) Library System, Painted Post, New York; University of Chicago Laboratory Elementary School Library.

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