A sophisticated picture book about a sausage dog who is very unlike other dogs and wants desperately to be able to make friends, this will strike a chord with kids who feel different and don't know how to deal with it. Our dog lives in a house, uses a loo, collects beautiful things like sticks and bones, drinks coffee, and tries too hard to make friends with other dogs he sees in the park, even though he is horrified by their toileting arrangements and their sniffing each other's bottoms! But they aren't having it, particularly when they find him stroking a cat! He comes to the conclusion that he will have to remain lonely... until a poodle who has seen him in the park walking on two legs, knocks on his door. They couldn't be more unlike in some ways. Our friend is quiet and lives by himself, whereas the newcomer is loud, noisy and friendly, full of glee, untidy, and very sure of himself. He enjoys seeing the house, having an explanation of the toilet and it's purpose, and loves all of his new friend's collections. They are soon getting on like a house afire and our dog is on his way to finding that even 'one of the others' can be a friend, though they aren't alike in many ways. The book is translated from Swedish, and the pictures are a huge treat as well as the humour involved. The end pages are full of different kinds of dogs, all sorts and kinds on four legs, while the two new friends are playing ball on just two. Great fun, but also with real help for the lonely and different.