Not a Dog

♦ Although it barks, a Mexican prairie dog is not a canine.
While the “perrito llanero” once dug underground colonies in grasslands from Mexico to Canada, their population declined as farmers took over their lands and culled many of the animals. Interspersed with Spanish words, this clever tribute to an endangered rodent is woven with introductions to shapes. At birth, the prairie dog is a “tiny, hairless thing, nuzzling its mamá with the triángulo of its nose.” As it grows and joins other pups, they eat “grass and plants with their sharp rectángulos for teeth.” Though these animals face perils from humans, they also have allies. A diverse group of schoolchildren on a field trip learn about the prairie dogs and are spurred to help protect them, getting out their “papel cuadrado” (paper in the shape of a square) and writing letters. Their efforts pay off, and a “No farming” sign soon goes up. Now, “as far as those óvalo-shaped eyes can see, there are prairie dogs and prairie dogs and prairie dogs.” Like the creators’ previous titles—Not a Bean (2019) and Not a Monster (2023)—this is a playful look at a potentially misunderstood creature. González’s earth-toned illustrations are both “aw”-inspiring and meticulously detailed, especially the cutaway images of the underground homes. A celebration of environmental action, a look at a most fascinating rodent, and an exploration of Spanish shape words—this one succeeds on all fronts.
A worthy continuation of a stellar series.
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Claudia Guadalupe Martinez learned that letters form words from reading subtitles of old westerns with her father. Her debut novel, The Smell of Old Lady Perfume, received the 2009 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, the 2008 Texas Institute of Letters Best Young Adult Book Award, and a 2009 Americas Award Commendation. Pig Park won the 2015 Texas Institute of Letters Best Young Adult Book and the 2015 NACCS Tejas Foco Young Adult Fiction Award.

Laura Gonzalez has a degree in graphic design from Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in Mexico, where she also studied illustration. She is a member of the Mexican Association of Illustrators (AMDI) and has illustrated several books for children.

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