Hot Dog

 Title: Hot Dog

Author: Doug Salati

 

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

 

Format: Book

 

Publication Date: May 24, 2022

 

Grade Level: PreK through 3rd Grade

 

Category: Caldecott Medal Winner

 

In Hot Dog, a bustling, sizzlingly hot city makes this poor pup fed up. When he finally plops himself down in the middle of the crosswalk, unwilling to move another step, his kind owner decides what he needs is a nice, calming day at the beach. I chose this Caldecott-winning book because I bought it for my two-year-old nephew for his birthday a few months ago, when I was drawn to the dynamic art and sweet story while volunteering at the youth library.

 

Plot. The plot is simple and emotion-driven, with the central conflict revolving around the dog's inability to deal with his stress. How can his problem be solved? His owner recognizes her pup's distress, and she whisks him away to a quiet beach where he can have a day to run free and enjoy a little peace and quiet. The book ends with dog and owner returning to the city, having enjoyed a nice break and ready to face the busy, hot city streets again tomorrow. 

Style and Language. The story is written in verse, but there are very few words per page. For example "City summer / steamy sidewalks / concrete crumbles / sirens screech" are the only words on the first four pages of the book! I found this simplicity to be a point in Hot Dog's favor. While not many words are used, the words that are are lyrical and clever, and have a soothing effect that contributes to the overall feelings of calmness that the book evokes. 

Illustrations. I would argue that the majority of the story is told through the illustrations; you could get rid of the words completely and still go on the same emotional journey through the illustrations alone. At the start of Hot Dog, the images are colored in sunny, hot reds and warm yellows and oranges. The pictures are crammed full of people, buildings, and action, giving the reader a sense of cramped stress and urgency. Once the dog and owner find their way to the beach, the colors transform into soothing blues and greens, and the images become open, sprawling, and airy. You can almost feel the physical sensation of a temperature drop as you turn the pages. 

References:

Salati, D. (2022). Hot Dog. (D. Salati, Illus.). Knopf Books for Young Readers.