Sally Dog Little: Undercover Agent

Sylvia Pantaleo is an associate professor of education, specializing in
children’s literature, at the University of Victoria. She is the
co-author of Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary
Classroom.

In this sequel to Richardson’s Sally Dog Little (2002), the
large-snouted canine with constant nasal drip listens attentively as her
best friend (and owner), Twinkle Little, discusses some of the exciting
professions she might pursue when she grows up. Although Sally Dog
Little is very content being the Little family’s dog, when she hears
that undercover agents nose around trying to learn about people’s
secrets, the canine is inspired to be a snooper! Sally Dog Little
literally becomes an undercover sleuth, cloaking herself under her doggy
blanket. The stealthy canine uncovers many secrets in the Little
household, but when she creeps into the garden, she observes a chain of
events that may lead to disaster if she does not reveal herself! After
her experiences in the garden, Sally Dog decides that dogs should be
just dogs.

Although the plot trajectory is simple, and the outcome of the impeding
chain reaction is predictable, readers will enjoy following Agent Sally
on her spying adventure. Malépart’s bright, comical, cartoonish
illustrations extend the humour of the text. Especially funny is the
quirky canine, whose pointy snout is framed by two pinhole eyes in a
head that’s larger than her whole body. Recommended.