Stanley's Party

Linda Ludke is a librarian at the London Public Library.

Stanley, a fun-loving brown dog, has the house to himself while his
owners are out at night. He knows the rules, but can’t resist sitting
on the couch, “just for a minute.” Hesitant at first, he soon makes
himself comfortable on the furniture, remembering to straighten the
cushions and tidy up before “his people” return. His scheme works,
and he dares to try other forbidden activities such as playing the
stereo and raiding the refrigerator. Feeling lonely, he decides to
entertain some canine friends. News of the party quickly spreads, and
Stanley’s house becomes packed with neighbourhood pooches of all
shapes and sizes. When Stanley’s owners unexpectedly return home, the
wild shindig comes to an abrupt halt. After spending two days cleaning
up the mess, Stanley’s people resolve to take him with them whenever
they leave for the evening.

Bill Slavin’s acrylic illustrations are brimming with humorous
details, from Stanley’s facial expressions, to the dog-bone decor.
Children will laugh out loud at the exploits of the lampshade-wearing
“party animals.” The page layout is from a dog’s perspective, so
we see only the legs of Stanley’s owners.

This clever, witty book begs to be read aloud. Highly recommended.