October 2, 2017
Just how long is Bartelby, the “sausage dog” resident of a bookstore? Long enough that he can’t fit head to tail on a page of Patton’s lighthearted book. On a walk with three children, Bartleby happily returns the smiles of passersby, oblivious that his “blundering behind” is creating mayhem: it triggers a pileup of cars, trips a pizza deliverer, and topples a ladder, sending a painter and his paint flying. Hearing the commotion, Bartelby circles back to investigate, determined to “get to the bottom of this and find the culprit!” This he does, biting the offending rear end—and thus identifying whose it is. Patton (Drat That Fat Cat!) adeptly highlights the story’s physical comedy, and Bartleby’s scruffy fur and expressive, bugged-out eyes make him a sympathetic pup. But the artwork doesn’t always communicate clearly: how Bartleby triggers the car accident isn’t entirely evident, and the children’s solution to prevent future incidents (a yellow scarf and “long vehicle” sign are involved) seems more about making others aware of the dog than about keeping Bartleby “absolutely sure where his bottom is.” Ages 4–8. Agent: Alli Brydon, Bright Group.