01/01/2015
K-Gr 1—Bailey is a handsome young dog who accompanies a class of human children on a visit to a museum of natural history. Being a dog, he sometimes lacks focus, although the call of "squirrel" will quickly regain his attention. When Bailey falls asleep, his keen sense of smell reunites him with the class. Though Kirby Heyborne's narration is well paced and expressively voiced, without the cartoon illustrations of the picture book, young listeners are not likely to know what some of the museum pieces (a dream catcher) look like. The listening experience will be enhanced by keeping a copy of the print book nearby.—Maria Salvadore, formerly of the Washington, DC Public Library

PreS-Gr 2— The friendly pup is back for another adventure. This time, he and his classmates are going to the Museum of Natural History. Once there, Bailey is hard-pressed to follow the rules-there are just so many distractions for a fun-loving dog. Really, how can he resist dinosaur bones? Fortunately, Bailey is befriended by a museum guard who helps keep the little dog safe, or is it the other way around? While fans of Bailey's previous adventure will enjoy the story, extended through the cartoon-style illustrations that feature Bliss's trademark sly humor, there are some missteps. The dinosaur segment is inexplicably interrupted by a stop at what looks like a fish tank, which is better suited to a trip to an aquarium. The image of Bailey on a totem pole, his behavior in the American Indian display, and the gift of a dream-catcher to our canine friend may be seen as insensitive to Native American traditions. This story doesn't quite achieve the high marks of Bailey (Scholastic, 2011).—Sharon Grover, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI