The last page sort of undermines the message of this book ("Don't be a show-off"). But my three-year-old lately has this habit of shouting, "I WIN!" all the time and I think this book may help her understand why that's not cool. ( )

Dog starts out boasting that he is the best at various tasks. Other animals feel left out and begin their own boasting about being the best. Eventually Dog's feelings are hurt until his friends convince him he is good at being a friend. Dog goes back to feeling like, "I'm the Best!." While it mirrors a child's egocentrism and attempts to teach about thinking of others, I'm not convinced that Dog has learned his lesson about boasting since his last words are the same as his first. A disappointment.

I'm not really a Maisy fan. I mean, I don't dislike her, I just don't focus much on the toddler age group. Which is probably bad. I prefer board books with lots of photographs and textures and I generally sit down once or twice a year and buy a giant stack of toddler picturebooks and that's kinda it. But I do like some of the non-Maisy items Lucy Cousins has been producing the past year or so.

This new title features an exuberant - and boastful - dog. One by one, he defeats his friends in various contests. He runs faster than mole, digs better than goose, is bigger than ladybug, swims better than donkey....but now his friends feel sad and small. Until, they realize they are better than dog - if they arrange they competitions! Now it's dog's turn to feel sad and useless, until his friends' cheer him up. Dog's ego can't be kept down for long and he ends the book with a pleased observation about who's really the best.

Toddlers will enjoy the splashy art and the different animals and competitions, but this book is really ideally suited for preschoolers and even kindergarteners who will grasp the ironic humor and figure out exactly how dog is arranging things! I'd also like to use the book in a painting session with older kids sometime to encourage them to try some more exuberant art - my kid patrons are a bit perfectionistic when it comes to their painting sometimes.

Verdict: Recommended. A fun addition to Cousins' work

ISBN: 978-0763646844; Published May 2010; Purchased for library.

A cute tale about a high spirited and self centered dog that realizes he can be the best at everything. The text is very bold and the artwork is vibrant and colorful. A very cute story for young readers. ( )

A story about a dog who thinks he's the best at everything and brings his friends down by bringing their spirits down. His friends teach him the importance of friendship.