This Is Gus

Gus is a grumpy dog who doesn’t cheer up for much—not even traditional dog favorites, like being petted or playing fetch. For his birthday, he receives a surprise gift: a puppy. The puppy is certain that Gus likes some things the pair do together, like baths and hide-and-seek. But even young readers will be able to tell by the unchanging look on Gus’s face that the puppy is most likely mistaken and that, in fact, Gus does not like those things. The only thing readers, the puppy, and Gus will all agree on is that Gus likes sausage. Just when it appears Gus won’t share even a single link with the puppy, readers are treated to a touch of nobleness as Gus saves and shares the last link. Chatterton’s digital illustrations are simple with solid backgrounds of blue, green, and yellow. On a few pages there are clever details to enjoy, like pictures of Gus hanging in frames in the dining room. Gus’s grumpiness is emphasized with a pose that doesn’t change a bit despite various settings, including in the bathtub and hugging—only Gus’s eyes show the varying degrees of grumpiness Gus feels. While it’s wry humor, it might also strike some readers as repetitive and a bit boring.