Petropolis
Susanne Santoro Whayne
Illustrated by Christopher Santoro
Handprint Books, 2004
Ages 4-8

When his family leaves the house for the day, Max the dog gets to test out his brand new pet door. What he finds on the other side, however, isn’t his familiar backyard.

He is in Petropolis, the bustling city where pets go when their owners aren’t around. Suddenly, Max is wearing human clothes and gazing “in a state of shock” at his new surroundings. He soon finds his neighbor, Nina the Cat, and they set out to see the city’s sights.

They ride the bus along with snakes and parrots, take in “Ratzilla” at the Petroplex, and indulge in kibble sundaes at the Slurp n’ Burp. While browsing works by Pablo Picatsso, Vincent Van Goat, Auguste Rodent, and Norman Rottweiler at the acclaimed Petropolitan Museum of Art, Max wonders if he should ever go back to his quiet suburban house.

The depictions of Petropolis are inventive, colorful, and clever. This book is a fun way of introducing city life to young readers.

* Visit the publisher's website for more information.