eh, it was okay. Really not a fan of the illustrations. ( )

When the puppies hear that the White House is looking for a puppy for Sasha and Malia, they have a contest to see who is the best puppy. The three winners head to the White House, where they find that the Obamas have already found a puppy on their own (imagine), but that it could use some playmates.

Kind of baffling - why is some old basset hound in Missouri in charge of things? Who makes up the criteria for "best"? - but playful, colorful illustrations of the many kinds of puppies who want to be First Dog. ( )

Summary:
After the Obama’s move into the white house, they want to complete the family by getting a puppy. The animals of the world hear, and have contests to decide who will win. Three dogs are chosen as a package deal, because no single dog made the cut. When they get to the white house, a dog has already been chosen.

Personal Reaction:
This is a cute idea, but the book fell apart. The contests didn’t make any sense, and the book was very repetitive. The illustrations were boring, and lacked depth.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1.This could be an introduction to a Presidential unit.
2.This could also be used to introduce a responsibility lesson. Students could draw or bring pictures of pets, and explain what they have to do to take care of them.

A book about animals fighting for the chance to be the first dog in the Obama white house. They enter their own contest (could be some good voices), and 3 walk into the White House only to find out a dog has already been selected, but the two girls invite them to play with their new dog. Just okay. ( )

It's a cute idea. When word spreads that the Obamas are going to adopt a puppy, all kinds of dogs, and other animals, want to be picked, and they decide to hold a contest. But the story doesn't hold together. The contests don't make sense, and then - out of absolutely nowhere - an "ancient custom" appears. And then there are three dogs which, if put together, meet the requirements. It's confusing.

The pictures are just okay. One of the fun things about children's books is that, often, there are surprises in the pictures, things to look for, particularly when there are "crowd" scenes. But there's nothing like that here. Just piles of dogs. Not that piles of dogs can't be cute, but it got a bit repetitious. I have to say, though, that the picture of the three dogs peering into the windows of the White House tugged at my heartstrings a bit. But then I can't read Mutts' Shelter Stories without wanting to dash off to the SPCA!