Tinka is a sweet dog, a treat dog, a jumping-up-to-greet dog. A fun dog, a sun dog, a run-and-run-and-run dog. Meet Tinka, a dandy, sandy golden retriever, and the boy who loves her as they spend a busy, dizzy day at the beach. Sunny watercolors and a lighthearted rhyming text will make this rhythmic read-aloud a winner with dog lovers of all ages. PreSchool-Grade 1–In this action-filled romp, Tinka and the boy who loves her journey from home to the beach to the fair and home again. Being reprimanded for candy snatching, running away, playing Frisbee, and giving some lovin' are just a few of the activities that fill the pup's busy day. Her adventures are described in a repetitive and effective singsong text that is catchy and enjoyable to read. She's "A Hey! dog,/a sprayed dog,/a skunk-got-in-the-way dog./...A care dog,/a share dog,/a when-I-need-her-there dog." The text and the painterly, cartoon illustrations work together beautifully. The story is brought to life through a mix of full- and partial-page spreads that use bold acrylics in bright and warm tones, and the different perspectives give readers the feeling of being part of the action. Tinka is a fun-to-read-about dog, and this book would enrich any storytime.– Catherine Callegari, San Antonio Public Library, TX Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. K-Gr. 3. A sandy, dandy, golden retriever named Tinka and the boy who owns her spend a day at the beach. The charm of the simple scenario is heightened by short, snappy rhymes and comical acrylic illustrations that energize the fun in the sun. Tinka and her boy slide side by side, play Frisbee, and have a tug-o-war over candy bars and a teddy bear. When Tinka grabs the suntan lotion, she's an "icky-sticky-licky" dog; on the way home, she's a "sprayed-by-a-skunk" dog; after a tomato juice bath, she's a "climb-up-in-a-lap" dog. The rhyme, which is never tiresome, may spark some rhyming take-off exercises at home or in a classroom. From the enticing cover showing Tinka sporting "shades" to the dog's always amusing facial expressions, kids will relish this clever, sharing and caring story. Julie Cummins Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Author Deborah Heiligman is the author of a number of highly praised nonfiction children’s books, including High Hopes: A Photobiography of John F. Kennedy (named a Top Ten JFK Pick by BookSense). She and her husband live and write in New York City. Illustrator Tim Bowers has illustrated more than twenty children’s books, many of them about dogs. Among his most popular titles are the Little Whistle books by Cynthia Rylant and Sometimes I Wonder If Poodles Like Noodles by Laura Numeroff. Tim and his family live in Granville, Ohio.