Stanley's Beauty Contest. Linda Bailey. Illustrated by Bill Slavin. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2009. 32 pp., hardcover, $17.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-318-3. Preschool-grade 3 / Ages 4-8. Review by Christina Neigel. *** /4

excerpt:

Everyone lined up for the first contest. Fastest Dog.

Hey, thought Stanley, no problem. He could run really fast to get one of those cookies. He could run like the wind!

Except he didn't. He tried his best. But he was just getting started when a white blur raced past. A whippet! By the time Stanley reached the finish line, she was already eating the prize.

"Awwrrr," moaned Stanley.

Once more, Stanley returns to young readers in this doggy adventure. After enduring a bath and missing breakfast, Stanley is taken to the "Pooches in the Park" dog contest. Stanley's hunger gets the best of him, and he ends up initiating a massive dog-pile when attempting to lick a cookie on the people table.

     Bill Slavin's illustrations continue to capture the humour and wit of Linda Bailey's writing. As the fourth book in the Stanley series, Stanley's Beauty Contest is probably the weakest of the quartet. However, fans of Stanley will enjoy his silly adventure. His continued innocence and happy-go-lucky nature continue to resonate with children.

Recommended.

Christina Neigel is the program head for the Library and Information Technology Program at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, BC.

NEXT REVIEW |TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - May 15, 2009.