By day, Signor Poochini is just a dog sleeping in front of his master's fire. But by night he is the Great Poochini, the most acclaimed singer in all of doggie opera. One evening, a locked window threatens to keep Poochini from the opera house where his eager fans await. When a cat burglar appears, the disaster becomes Poochini's opportunity to save both his master's house and his performance. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

PreS-Gr 2-Signor Poochini lives with his master in a large city. By day, he is Jack, an ordinary dog, but by night, he is the Great Poochini-the famous canine opera star. But trouble occurs on the evening of the premiere of Dog Giovanni. Poochini, who has the starring role, is locked inside his house when his master leaves for the night. When a cat burglar breaks in, the dog frightens him away, jumps out the window, and makes it onstage just in time. While it is doubtful that a picture-book audience will get all of the wordplay that is at the core of the story ("Dog Perignon," "Maestro Pawvarotti," "Muttropolitan Opera House"), they will be able to appreciate some of the puns. ("Dog-gone-it!" howls Poochini when he realizes he's trapped at home.) Likewise, phrases like the "nefarious prowler" and "voluminous cloak" may trip up some independent readers. However, children will enjoy the drama of the story, the ostentatious pooch, and the amusing and detailed full-color illustrations. Mary Jane Auch's Bantam of the Opera (Holiday, 1997) and Arnold Sundgaard's The Bear Who Loved Puccini (Philomel, 1992; o.p.) are similar stories enjoyed by young children.-Carolyn Stacey, Jefferson County Public Library, Golden, CO Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information