Description:
"Once there was a very kind rich lady who adopted one hundred stray dogs. They all lived together in a tall house on a hill." So begins Chinlun Lee's first ever picture book--a thoroughly charming story based on a woman in Taipei who actually did take in an impossible number of stray dogs. This very kind rich lady loves her charges very much, and we are introduced to them one by one in delightful spreads of delicate colored pencil and watercolor. First we meet Papa, then Mr. Samuel, then Mary, then Fifi and her four pups Eeny, Meeny, Miney, and Mo. ("That's eight.") The hundredth one--Bingo--is always late. Children will adore poring over the pages and closely examining each lovingly illustrated pooch--each aptly named, each with his or her own distinct personality. Sooty looks fresh out of the chimney, Lola is a poodle, Yogurt is creamy and smooth looking, Pirate has a natural eye patch, Silk has an ephemeral quality, etc. Every day, the very kind rich lady feeds them, brushes them, plays on the hill, and puts them all to bed. The final spread, "Goodnight, one hundred dogs," shows the woman sleeping contentedly on a bed on the floor, surrounded by her beloved animals from Sheepdog to Sharpei, also serenely snoozing. Sweet simplicity and pure personality combine to make this one of the tail-waggingly best bedtime books we've ever seen. (Ages 2 to 6) --Karin Snelson
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