THREE, A Picture Book with Countless Pleasures

 If you are a regular reader here you'll know that the soft spot in my heart for animals in general, and especially for dogs, is quite large. One reason there are so many picture books about dogs is that there are so many ways to explore the infinite hearts and natures of dogs. 

Earlier this spring I reviewed PERDU, by author/illustrator Richard Jones, including an interview. In that book, the title dog, Perdu, had a loving home but became lost. He is seeking, longing to restore his sense of belonging, something that he once knew and remembered well. (Spoiler alert: happy ending, but you already guessed that, right?)

Neal Porter Books
Holiday House, 2021

THREE happens to be a dog without a home. It just so happens  he is also a dog without a right front leg. Thus, he is THREE, a simple fact of life and number. That he is homeless appears to be a simple fact of life, unlike Perdu. 

Three conveys a gentle acceptance of everything in life, with intelligence and curiosity, including a clever capacity for making his solo journey through life with a happy heart and independent spirit. On a rainy day, he walks beside an umbrella-carrying character, he enjoys sunny days for warmth, raining days for a good wash, and keeps a wag in his tail to remain well-fed. 

"Every day was a skip and a hop for Three."

Light and direct text reveals the casual fact that Three occasionally looked for a home, but mostly spent time taking close account of the numbers of legs surrounding him. Little six-legs (ants) had a harder time surviving in the city, so made an underground home. Little eight-legs faced dangers, so had a home up high.It is not stated, but the inference is that somewhere there might be a just-right home for Three, but this was just another simple fact, not a cause for yearning or concern. Light touches like these prevent readers from feeling pity or worry, although Three invites connection and affection from the start. 

Three's joyfully rational perspective on legs notes that table and chairs have four legs, but never go far. In fact, some are often sat upon by two legs. Several colorful double spreads present urban landscapes with dashed-line trails revealing Three's various sojourns.Three follows his nose, and off he goes. 

When such a day leads him away from the city, he encounters entirely new and interesting four legs and two legs and long ears, and ... a two leg pretending to be a four leg. That new creature, named Fern, becomes a friend. Exactly the kind of friend they both needed.

This lightly told and lively-illustrated tale combines simple concepts with deep-seated truths. Perfect for even the youngest, there are  plenty of counting opportunities and loads of laughs at the clever insights offered. The rich reality of acceptance and confidence and respect also make this an ideal picture book for older readers, inviting discussion about differences and adaptability and attitudes. 

THREE is written and illustrated by Stephen Michael King. His books reveal mastery of versatile art techniques, applied with thoughtful effectiveness to the intention and spirit of the text. THREE is a winning example of using a light touch in both art and text to explore character and differences, resulting in a picture book I highly recommend.