Doggie in the Window

Linda Ludke is a librarian at the London Public Library.

Doggie dreams of being adopted by Mademoiselle Madeleine, but she never
notices how enthusiastically he wags his tail in the pet-store window.
One evening the tiny Jack Russell terrier sneaks through a hole in the
wall and enters Madeleine’s dress shop. The bolts of brilliant fabric
and the rainbow assortment of thread inspire him to sew an
attention-getting zebra-printed costume. The next morning the seamstress
does notice him, but she thinks he is “an odd-looking kitten.” Over
the next several nights, the pup creates more designer originals,
including a multi-feathered bird ensemble and a lizard outfit, complete
with suction cup paws. When Mademoiselle realizes Doggie’s talents,
she immediately hires him as her new costume designer.

The colourful gouache-and-ink illustrations capture Doggie’s quirky,
fun-loving antics, like donning a bathing cap and pretending to be a
fish. The other pet-shop animals show expressions of surprise and
delight. The final scene shows Madeleine and Doggie hurrying down the
street with ribbons flowing from their coats and buttons spilling out of
their pockets. Children will applaud the plucky dog’s determination to
make his dream come true. Highly recommended.