David Melling, author-illustrator of the 2025 picture book Ruffles and the Bouncy, Bouncy Ball, definitely knows dogs. This knowledge shows up in the tight, almost obsessive focus Ruffles the dog has for his favorite toy (the bouncy, bouncy ball of the title), but also in the scenarios Ruffles finds himself in, and in the body language shown in the brightly colored illustrations.
The story itself is light/simple: Ruffles loves a lot of activities, but he loves his bouncy, bouncy ball most of all. He loses it. He looks for it. He’s sad. His dog-friend Ruby helps him look for it. They can’t find the ball. Ruffles gets sad. Ruby finds some good mud. Ruffles plays with him in the mud, and realizes that he’s happy despite the lost toy, because there are so many things he enjoys, especially playing with Ruby.
The lesson is clear and useful, but it isn’t the main draw. What really brings this book to life are the structure and illustrations. Melling moves between images of a dog or dogs emoting and acting against a background of pure color and pages where readers get little snapshots of Ruffles doing things. These have nine small images on them, arranged in a three-by-three square, and give readers a lot to look at, Kids will enjoy looking at the nine things Ruffles loves doing, the nine places Ruffles looks for his ball, the nine ways his friend Ruby plays in mud, and so on. From there it is a short walk to kids listing all the things their dogs do, all the things they do, and so on.
A small but pleasing book, with good visuals.
