Peg Leg Peke by Brie Spangler Ages 4-8 40 pages Knopf January 2008 Hardcover     Peg Leg Peke is a story about a small Pekingese puppy whose hurt leg is encased in a cast. He tells the narrator when asked that he has a “boo-boo.” The puppy (along with the narrator) uses his imagination, making out that the puppy’s cast is a pirate-style peg leg. Before you know it, Peke is dressed in a hat and eye patch, sailing a pirate ship with his peg leg. Peke finds a treasure on a spot marked, of course, by an “X”. This book encourages children to use their imagination so that they can see how Peke becomes a pirate. When Peke finds the buried treasure, the story comes back to reality - it turns out to be every child’s favorite, their blankie. Repeated language will help small children expand their vocabulary. The words are printed in large letters, making them easy for the child who is learning – or pretending - to read. This is a book that children will want read over and over to them, as well as reading it themselves.     web reviews   Karen D. Haney/2009 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)