Zelda's dog Fred can turn anything into a bed—a crinkly shopping bag, a pile of old newspapers, a soggy bath towel—and most of the time, that's fine with his owners. But when Zelda has a birthday party, Fred's penchant for snoozing and his curiosity about cake land him in the proverbial dog house; when the partygoers become rowdy, however, the sleepy beagle is ready to save the day. This affectionate tribute to dogs and their people features Barbara Samuels's brightly painted illustrations, which teem with patterns and household details for readers 4 to 7 to spot.

"Fred's travails, body language, and ability to make a bed out of just about anything make for entertaining reading, but it's his mutually adoring relationship with Zelda that will resonate most strongly with young pet lovers."—Publishers Weekly