  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 03/01/2014 The titular dog of indeterminate breed returns in this follow-up to his clothes-making adventures in Archie (2012), and it seems that, after all that sewing, he’s ready for a vacation. Or is he? Where many dream of the good times ahead, Archie neurotically imagines poor weather conditions, overeating, and coming up short on the right accessories for his planned activities. As in his first picture book, Archie is a dog who happens to own another dog, and his white terrier helps him load one anxiety-quelling item after another into his woefully ill-suited luggage. But as soon as they force it closed, it explodes in a dramatically chaotic four-page foldout, pressing Archie into a creative and comical solution. The few bursts of words springing from Archie’s fears (“Canoe? Submarine? Too much!?!”) crowd every few pages and, like vintage Jules Feiffer, create a jittery and amusing sense of urgency. But the mainly wordless images composed of soft, warmly sketchy figures combine with the gentle comedy to create an instantly endearing character. - Copyright 2014 Booklist. School Library Journal - 03/01/2014 Gr 1–3—What starts with Archie packing for a carefree vacation soon turns into a frenetic, anxiety-inducing nightmare as the dapper canine prepares for every contingency imaginable…until his suitcase explodes. The only text that appears in this story are Archie's musings about what could happen on his vacation and what he must remember to bring. "Lightning? Thunder? Waterproof everything!" While the sketch and watercolor illustrations and kooky items lend an air of humor to the story, the panic of packing will likely be lost on the intended audience.—Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OH - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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