Murphy is a kinetic terrier whose acute sensibilities to all the smells and sounds and sights around give him a two-second attention span and an undeniable charm. This frenetic, stream-of-consciousness picture book is told from Murphy’s perspective. Murphy doesn’t even realize his name is simply Murphy, and not “Murphy-Stop-That,” which is how he introduces himself and how he’s always addressed by the humans in his life. Alice Provensen’s romp follows Murphy through the course of a day that is rarely calm and sometimes harrowing (it includes a ride in the dreaded car for a visit to the vet). But it’s always interesting and always entertaining. The illustrations of Murphy are part of the overall appeal, and they perfectly capture the energetic essence of the little dog. (Ages 5–8)