If you were a dog, what would you want more than anything else? Harry, and his master Billy Brown, want to win the local dog show. But they have some stiff competition. Mrs. Moneybags’s dog Mr. Puddles is a purebred and comes from the fanciest breeder around. Mr. Mango’s dog Bradley is the most expensive dog of his litter. The Parkhurst twins’ dog Lovely has everyone gasping at her grace and style. And Mr. and Mrs. Hightower’s dog Bobo can sit and roll over and fetch things. You see, Billy adopted Harry from an animal shelter, and no one really knows what kind of dog he is. All the others look down on Harry and make unkind remarks about him. Billy almost decides not to enter him, but he has had a dream about Harry’s winning the dog show. So, what will he do? And which dog will win?

Of course, we should be kind to animals and not mistreat them, but the message of this story is about so much more than just that. We ought to be nice to other people and not hurt them too. Almost like a parable, author and illustrator Sally O. Lee, whose other books include The Carrot King; A Cat’s Alphabet Book; Is There a Monster Over There?; No, Never; The Tutu Ballet; and The Rabbit and the Snowman, combines a sympathetic text with her characteristicly appealing, full-color drawings to weave an endearing tale about fairness, kindness, and perseverance in following your dreams. An additional benefit of the book might be in encouraging children to consider adopting a pet from an animal shelter. I give The Dog Show two thumbs up! ( )

When Billy enters his dog Harry in the local dog show, he hears from all of the other entrants how special their dogs are. They each tell him why their dog will win and his won’t. He doesn’t know what kind of dog Harry is. He loved Harry the moment he found him at the shelter. But, Harry has a surprise for everyone. ( )