Lucky Jake, by Sharon Hart Addy

Illus. by Wade Zahares.

Jake longs for a dog and when his prospector father finds a nugget of gold, part of it goes to pay for a pig he names Dog. Thus begins a string of luck and hard work that ultimately results in father and son opening a restaurant and trading post. The refrain of "Yup. Lucky" throughout the sequence of events punctuates the storytelling. The illustrator's electric and surreal use of color, line, and perspective are a visual treat. Could be used to teach cause and effect or sequencing, this is definitely a title for read aloud.