You needn’t be a dog owner to identify with this expertly wrought tale of physical and emotional relief. The dog’s human presents as White other characters are diverse. Spare poetic text also perfectly captures this small canine’s mindset. Happily, the book avoids demonizing cities in favor of the country, showing instead how a bad day affects your every sense. One can almost feel the palpable temperature shift when the colors on the pages move from vibrant oranges, reds, and yellows to blues and greens, like a tonal reprieve. Salati expertly captures the stifling claustrophobia of hot and crowded city streets. Not simply off the streets, but from a train to a boat to an island, “wild and long and low.” After a day playing by the sea (and encountering what turns out to be a seal), they return to the city, where the world has cooled down and the two can come home to dinner and a sleep filled with dreams of seals. The owner sympathizes and immediately whisks the little dog away.

Spare text reveals their unhappiness: “too close! too loud! too much! THAT’S IT!” The dog digs in their heels, refusing to go any further. But today the little dog is feeling overwhelmed by the crowds and the heat.

On a hot summer’s day in a metropolis reminiscent of New York, a middle-aged human and a wiener dog run errands. Cool ocean breezes prove to be the perfect antidote to city burnout in this loving doggy tale.

Doug salati hot dog