by Moe Zilla

Created on: March 26, 2010

"Yes, everything about Dex was little - except for his dreams." The little dachshund imagines himself as a dog superhero, flying boldly into the night. But in real life, all the other dogs laugh at Dexter - even a mouse on the stairs. He's too slow for chasing games and easy to overlook - and a tomcat demonstrates walking over Dexter without ruffling his fur.

It's a funny premise, and illustrator Mark Buehner contributes some wonderful drawings. One picture shows the dachshund eagerly reading a "Planet Protector" comic book. (On the cover is a dog attacking a cat with laser eyes.) And another picture shows Dex looking sadly at a giant movie poster showing "Captain K9" - a dog superhero who confronts an oncoming explosive warhead. Finally Dex imagines himself flying with gritted teeth and a superhero cape. But before the story starts, the real Dex is seen standing on his hind legs, assessing himself in a mirror - and flexing his tiny arms.

Mark's wife Caralyn wrote the book's story, and the book makes a very positive point. The dachshund decides to start training, reading every superhero comic book he can find, and he studies books at the public library.  But he also exercises - getting stronger and stronger - which is demonstrated with a funny illustration. There's six frames of the buffed-up dachshund, flexing his muscles in different poses in the mirror!

There's lots of details in the storyline, but it's enlivened by Mark's slick illustrations. One of my favorite pictures show Dex modelling his red superhero suit - with his hands on his hips, and a green cape flowing grandly behind him. He even adds a special game in his illustrations, according to the book's jacket. "To add to the superhero fun in this book Mark Buehner has hidden cats, rabbits, and
Tyrannosaurus rexes throughout his art.  

"See if you have the superpowers to spot them all!"

Yes, the book is about the excitement of being a hero - but it's also about becoming what you want to be. Eager Dex really is able to
help a young puppy cross the street. He tackles a purse-snatching bulldog, and puts out a trash fire, and soon the neighborhood starts turning to Dex for help. And one day even that pesky tomcat gets stuck in a tree.

In a climactic scene, the neighbors launch Dex up using a teeter-totter. Soon he's really flying through the air, as his green cape flows grandly behind him. In the end, he rescues the very cat that was making fun of him - and the tired dog finally gets noticed.

"Thanks, Dex. You really are a hero.

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