Ian Whybrow"s comical yet strangely subtle words and Tony Ross" spiky and caustic illustrations lead the reader into what at first looks like just another book about just another dog. But Sniff is, in fact, a clever, articulate and, most importantly, absolutely hilarious story about a family and a stray dog getting to grips with each other-- sometimes quite literally. From the moment Sniff--he of the slobbery lips, irresistible eyes and an alarming tendency to run round and round in circles--picks up the unsuspecting Ben and his two- year-old sister in the sandpit at the local playground, the book runs like an animated cartoon strip through the imagination, leaving the reader giggling and breathless and desperate for more. Funny, intelligent, pacey, tender and chaotic, Sniff is ideal for young, confident readers who enjoy getting really involved in a good book that tickles them into fits of laughter from beginning to end. (Ages 7 to 11) --Susan Harrison