One For You, One For Me, One For Everyone

It's one of their many abilities humans find uncanny.  (If we are wise, we pay attention.)  They do not make this decision without careful thought.  A variety of questions and the answers are weighed in their minds.  Then a selection is made.  This choice, when a dog chooses you, will create the best kind of life possible for two individuals.  It's an opportunity to explore possibilities you never imagined.

Some will look at you and your canine companion remarking on similarities in physical traits and unique characteristics.  You will be called a perfect pair. Considering the individual (the dog) responsible for this match, this is to be expected.  As revealed in Mr. Scruff (Candlewick Press, September 24, 2019) written and illustrated by Simon James, this perspective of perfection is not always true.

This is Polly.
She belongs to Molly.

As you might expect Polly, a poodle, and Molly, her human, both have curly hair.  A dachshund and his professorial-looking gentleman both tend to walk with their noses in the air.  Vinnie, a long-haired and well-loved street musician, has a sheepdog for a best pooch pal.  Each of these dogs and their humans have names that rhyme, and they tend to act and look alike.

Then we meet Mr. Scruff.  He's alone at a shelter, waiting for his ideal match.  (Do you think someone rhyming with Mr. Scruff will arrive?)

Mick, a little guy wearing a red bandana, rides in the side car of his motorcycle-loving human, Rick.  Another twosome enjoys fine dining.  Mr. Scruff is still alone.  Or is he?  A little boy stands in front of his cage.  His name is Jim.  Jim does not rhyme with Mr. Scruff.

They instantly love each other despite Jim's parents pointing out their size and age difference.  Mr. Scruff is big and old.  Jim, wise for his years, supplies a most excellent response to his parents.  True to both their instincts, Mr. Scruff and Jim are the best of friends.  Now, at this point, you might believe this story has come to its conclusion,

But wait a minute.

There is another human looking for a dog at the shelter.  There is another dog at the shelter needing a human.  And their names are . . .


With each reading the excellence of word choices and pacing shines brighter and brighter.  Simon James uses rhyming as an invitation to participate but then he breaks that cadence to further define perfect.  (Perfection we learn, like beauty, is in the eye and the heart of the beholder.)  Simon James cleverly repeats certain key phrases to add emphasis to the extended meaning of perfect.  By blending the voice of the unseen narrator with the dialogue of the parents, Jim and the final human, we become more a part of the story. Here is a passage.

But things are looking rough
for poor old Mr. Scruff.

Wait a minute!  Who's this? (page turn)

It's Jim!  


Rendered in ink and watercolor all the images by Simon James, beginning on the matching and open dust jacket and book case, are charming, hopeful and a little bit humorous.  On the front of the jacket and case, the lush park scene softens to draw our focus to Mr. Scruff and Jim.  Here we can see their size and age difference but also the complete adoration they have for each other. 

To the left, on the back, on a canvas of pristine white is Eric the dachshund with his human, Derek.  Their noses are still in the air.  Derek's briefcase is loaded with papers, some nearly falling out the sides.  On the jacket the dogs and their humans are varnished as is the text on the front.

On the left of the opening endpapers and on the right of the closing endpapers the seven dogs mentioned in the story are featured.  The title page with Mr. Scruff sitting next to his bed, bowl and ball is opposite the first endpapers.  On the back a single paw print is placed near the center of the page on the left.

When most of the dogs are introduced, they appear on a white background followed by a full-page picture.  White space supplies framing for many of the illustrations accentuating the characters.  There is only one double-page picture.  The line work of Simon James and his skill with light and shadow are exemplary.  The facial features of the dogs and their humans will have readers giggling and nodding knowingly. 

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is on a single page, edge to edge, except for a space at the bottom for the text.  The text reads:

It's Jim!

We are inside the shelter, looking at the large cage housing Mr. Scruff.  He is standing in front of his bed, bowl and ball.  Off to either side of his pen are items for maintaining cleanliness in the shelter.  Jim stands before the wire wall looking at Mr. Scruff.  Mr. Scruff is looking directly at readers with a puzzled look on his face.  It's as if he is momentarily questioning the lack of rhyming between Mr. Scruff and Jim.


It's guaranteed this book, Mr. Scruff written and illustrated by Simon James, will be a storytime favorite.  The use of language, the page turns, and the pictures equals picture book magic.  You will be grinning and giggling along with other readers. I highly recommend this title for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Simon James and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  Simon James has accounts on Facebook and Instagram.  There is a lot of art on his Instagram feed, process and final art.  At Candlewick Press and Penguin Random House you can view interior pictures.