This book is so cute. It shows children that it is okay to stand out and be different from the crowd. ( )

Odd Dog Out is all about celebrating your individuality and that it is okay not fitting in with those around you. The book asks children to look closely at those around you and see that not everyone is exactly the same as the people around them. The rhymes and the simple art style creates a captivating story and makes for great connections to how children (and adults) may not feel as though they fit in. ( )

This quirky story is another "be yourself" tale with a few twists. The title page shows a long train, each window containing an identical long-snouted dog face with black suit coat and hat. But is every dog the same? Brisk rhymes tell of a city where neat rows of dachsunds, all dressed alike and marching in lines, drive to work, walk on the sidewalks, or play soccer. "Swimmer... sailor... soldier... scout... They all blend in. No dog stands out."

Except one dog. She stands out from the rest with a rainbow scarf wrapped around her body, a rainbow hat, and a different beat playing on her headphones. She just can't get into the groove and is always going in the wrong direction, dancing to a different tune, or riding a bike instead of driving a car. Finally, she decides to find somewhere else to live and travels through a colorful panel of seasons until she finds a place, "Fabulous Doggywood" where she is just like everyone else. They all play guitars, ride bikes, and dress in rainbow scarves. But then she sees a dog in a sweater who is, yet again, different! When she sympathizes with the dog, she cheerfully tells her that she loves standing out from the crowd and still feels like she belongs.

The Odd Dog travels back home, to be greeted by the thrilled dogs of her own town who have missed her and appreciate that it's great to be different. Now many of the dogs feel comfortable doing something different and standing out and the story ends with a rainbow-colored encouragement to "Be who you are" and the two Odd Dogs in a heart, meeting on their own ground.

Verdict: There's so many "it's ok to be different" and similar books exalting the more colorful, exciting personalities that I kind of feel like a book focusing on being special even if you look like everyone else might be a little more unique. I'm kind of skeptical about the "it's ok to be different" and "be yourself" messages - do they really make a difference? Are they even helpful to kids? But teachers and parents do like them. The bright colors and funny dogs are a nice touch, but there's nothing really new here.

ISBN: 9780062367266; Published December 2019 by HarperCollins; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

A wiener dog in a colorful scarf and different ways doesn't fit in with the other, homogenous dogs in town. So she leaves for Doggywood where all the dogs look like her. And yet...there is a dog there who stands out, and proudly. Inspired, she returns home where the dogs have missed her unique ways, and some have taken a page out of her book. "Each one a doggy superstar...So blaze a trail. Be who you are."