Author/Illustrator: Ian Falconer
Harper Collins 2022
Hardcover, 40 Pages Picture Book
Augie and Perry are two Dachshunds that find themselves with nothing to do when their family is away for the day. They finally figure out how to open the backdoor and the real fun begins. From swimming in the pool to digging holes in the lawn, these two friends just can’t help themselves and the shenanigans continue until they hear their family come home.
Perry is headstrong, impish, and cheeky! Augie is more tentative, cautious, and careful, but joins in the fun anyway. These two friends, though very different, manage to have a great time together. If you’ve ever had two dogs get into trouble you can completely relate to the fun this book portrays. The expressions on the faces of these two Dachshunds are priceless.
The illustrations are particularly unique and the author, Ian Falconer – author of the famous Olivia series, in an interview with NPR, explained that he made a model of the backyard with artificial plants, using sushi mats for the back fence! Does the book have a message? Perhaps it’s a message of friendship, however more than that I think the author just wants the book to be enjoyed for the amusing and entertaining quality of the storyline and illustrations together. Not every children’s book needs a message! There’s something to be said for simple merrymaking!
Two Dogs by Ian Falconer gets 5 stars from this reviewer.