Bittle

Rating:
Summary: dog drinks from toilet--now that's funny (to my 3 yr old)
Review: Sometimes you never know just what will capture your child's attention. Bittle is one of those books I never would have expected to do so. It's certainly a cute story with a wry touch, but it simply didn't stand out in my mind for story or illustrations. So I guess when my wife says I've never grown up she must be wrong, because boy does my three-year-old love this book.
The story follows Julia the dog and Nigel the cat as their comfortable lives are interrupted by the arrival of Bittle, the new baby. Bittle's presence is foreshadowed by: a bag of tiny clothes (not mine says Julia), a new paintjob (the color of mold says Nigel), and a new crib (a cage says Julia). If you haven't figured it out, Nigel is the smart one.
At first the animals are a bit put out: Julia hides her bones (though Nigel tells her Bittle has no teeth), they're woken up by her screaming at night. But gradually, or as gradually as a picture book allows, they realized they share some common interests. Both Bittle and Nigel like chasing butterflies and both Julia and Bittle enjoy the bathroom--Bittle for the toilet paper roll as any parent could have guessed and Julia for the toilet bowl itself, an image which never fails to crack up my three-year-old. Or 30-month-old as he was when he first was exposed to Bittle. Nigel and Julia fetch toys when Bittle tosses them from the crib and lick Bittle's droppings from the table. In the end, mom and dad will be surprised to learn they weren't quite the influence on Bittle as they might have thought.
There is, as mentioned, a nice wry sense of humor and tone, especially from Nigel--he speaks as one imagines a cat would. The pictures are simple and colorful. There is a good pace to the story, the differing tones of Nigel and Julia allow for some fun reading aloud, and the story's point comes across clearly and gently. It's a good book on its own, a great book based on my son's reaction, but an especially good one to pick I'd think if you're expecting a second child and have some concerns about the first's reaction. Good recommendation from dad, super recommendation from son.