A Dog Who Shows the "Nose Knows"

A few months ago I had a conference critique of a picture book manuscript about dogs. Among some lovely and encouraging comments was an especially helpful question:

There are loads of doggy picture books, old and new.  

How is YOUR dog different from the others? 

Black Rose Writing, 2018

Author/illustrator David Hillman seems to have considered such a question. His recent picture book, BERKLEY: A Nose Tale, stars a dog you'll mistake for no other! Berkley's humongous and powerful nose is the point of the story. Berkley is a beagle/basset mix, which accounts for his natural talent. By a lucky quirk of fate, and Hillman's grin-inducing illustrations, Berkley sports a nose you'll long remember. It comes as no surprise that his nose results in some rude stares, many aroma-related nasty situations, and delight in his favorite savory specialty- stinky socks! 

It's no wonder that Berkley gets himself into unintended trouble. His enormous glossy nose, floppy ears, and expressive eyes make him irresistible despite a trail of messes. The story unfolds quickly with shifting angles and perspectives on Berkley and his adventures. Appealing word play (honker, schnoz) moves the text quickly, providing a familiar message to young readers: don't put your nose where it doesn't belong, develop some impulse control.

Without spoiling the ending, that magnificent nose saves the day. Berkley celebrates his uniqueness as an asset rather than a problem, settlng an example for every kid (and adult) who has a body part or trait they see as a weakness. In the process he is likely to become a reader-favorite. I can picture kids encountering basset hounds and shouting BERKLEY!

At the very least you'll want to meet him for yourself, especially now that he is the hero of the book.