DOG HEAVEN

Blue Sky Press/Scholstic, 1995. 1st Edition Printing Unknown. Hardcover. Very Good+/New. Cynthia Rylant color illustrations. CONDITION: Very good+ 1995 Blue Skly/Scholstic hardcover (decorated boards) & dust jacket (in mylar cover), first edition. Adorable color illustrations and color pages jump out at you. Decorated end pages. PROBLEM: 2 lightly bumped corners and an uneven binding - not too bad, but noticeable. CONTENT: Curl up with Rover and take a journey to Dog Heaven, where there are endless fields for running; clear lakes filled with teasing, honking ducks; and loving angel children playing everywhere. There are tasty biscuits shaped like cats and fluffy cloud beds for sleeping, memory trips back to favorite spots and people, and cozy homes with petting hands. Rylant uses simple, comfortable language and an abundance of careful detail to create a place of warmth and happiness. Dressed in colorful clothing and sporting an orange scarf, God is friendly and accessible; he looks after "His dogs," making sure the biscuits are appetizing and the dreams are serene. With their simple shapes and bold lines, the bright acrylic paintings have a childlike appeal. Brush strokes add texture and depth, while unusual color combinations - glowing mixes of oranges, purples, and greens - contribute to the peaceful mood. Canines become part of the landscape; tumbling hills and rounded surfaces reflect the rapid motion of exuberant pooches running breathlessly across endless fields, while pawprints shine brightly beside nighttime stars and decorate the sides of mountains. The reassuring story might comfort a child after the loss of a pet, but this pleasant, imaginary paradise will have a broader appeal to all animal lovers. Pres-School to Grade 2-3.