My Cousin the Poodle — Jo Dereske

Gr 4-5-- Barbara and Tommy spend a weekend with Aunt Tofelia and Uncle Rupert, an unusual couple with a spoiled dog and not a clue as to what to do with children. The siblings visit the racetrack, a wrestling match, and their uncle's nightclub act, and are fed pickled herring and Roquefort omelets. Actually, Tofelia and Rupert don't know much about the proper care of dogs, either--Terry Berry yearns to be played with. When she disappears, and the children rescue her, they win their relatives' gratitude and respect, and build a bridge of understanding between the two heretofore estranged families (whether Terry Berry will get some fun in her life remains unclear). This is a fairly lightweight story, set, but not firmly rooted, in 1955. Still, it does achieve a certain charm, particularly when the children try to comfort Aunt Tofelia when her pet disappears, and they discover some interesting bits of family history. The youngsters are resilient and capable, but the aunt, the uncle, and the various situations are far too exaggerated, suffer from forced humor, and lack credibility. --Carla Kozak, San Francisco Public Library