A French bulldog named Louie lives by himself and eats meals alone at neighborhood restaurants. But Louie wants a family to call his own. Little Louie has a comfortable life, sleeping in his tiny home hidden away underground. He eats each meal sitting alone at a different restaurant, enjoying dishes like raspberry pancakes and fish tacos. As he sees human families enjoying time together, Louie wishes he could have a family of his own. He tries to insert himself into several families, but each presents some barrier such as unacceptable food or a cranky cat. But when Louie visits a new bakery, the daughter of the owner takes a shine to Louie and convinces her mom to let Louie join their family. The story has a gentle air of make-believe, as Louie's anthropomorphic lifestyle and ability to read and reason are never explained but are believable nevertheless. His emotions are conveyed in soft-focus illustrations, especially in one poignant view of families playing together at sunset as Louie looks on in solitude from a hillside. The bakery owner and her daughter present white; other characters are diverse. The family groups are also diverse in composition, including mostly single parents, a grandfather and granddaughter, and a family with two moms. A sweet (but not saccharine) story about finding a forever family. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Louie the pup lives a seemingly perfect, if solitary, life, dining at his favorite spots around town, slurping up pancakes, tacos, and pasta, all while managing to save room for dessert. But all the snacks in the world can't fill the one thing missing from Louie's life: a family. Noticing all the wonderfully diverse families around town, he decides to join one. Alas, none seem to be a good fit: one only eats his least favorite foods, another has a territorial cat, and yet another is simply too sporty. Just when Louie gives up hope, he spots a young girl giving away gourmet cupcakes outside a new shop. Could this be the match? Thompson's soft digital illustrations create a vibrant, cozy city filled with charming detail, where pups with discerning palates are welcomed in fine dining establishments. It's a joy to follow Louie on his journey to finding his forever family and realizing that the delicious things in life can be even sweeter if shared.

PreS-Gr 1--Louie is a dog living on his own. He enjoys big meals, bathing in the park fountain, and reading a good book in his home under a tree. Although Louie originally thinks his life is perfect, he soon feels lonely and wants to find a family. He interacts with different people, but none of them are a good match for him, and he begins to feel defeated. Finally, he wanders across a new bakery, where he meets a girl and her mother. The three hit it off quickly after meeting and now Louie enjoys a bath, a meal, and a book with his new family. Although adequate in execution, there is little that this picture book offers to distinguish itself from others in a similar vein. The conclusion is predictable and the family, while satisfactory, are forgettable and bland. Louie is superficially likable, but at times seems more self-interested and dismissive of the other people he encounters. The illustrations, which were created digitally, are soft and detailed. VERDICT A serviceable but fairly by-the-numbers picture book. An additional purchase.--Laura J. Giunta, Garden City Public Library, NY