Chowder    by Peter Brown Order:  USA  Can Little, Brown & Co., 2006 (2006) Hardcover     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson On the front cover is a framed picture of a drooling English bulldog. His name? Chowder. 'Chowder had always been different' - quirky to his owners, plain weird to the rest of the human and canine world. Peter Brown shows this dignified, nerdy dog using a toilet, riding a carrousel horse, involved in paleontology, using a computer and a telescope. Like anyone, he wants to have friends. But 'the more he tried to fit in the more he stuck out! It wasn't easy being Chowder.' Luckily his owners are crazy about him. Chowder engineers a trip to the Food Ranch, where there's a petting zoo. He wants to make friends at the Critter Corral, and he finds a way - rather an unusual way - to do so. Kids will enjoy this sweet story about a dog who's different but uses his skills and courage to find companions who will appreciate him for who he is. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews