Sparky’s no mutt; as his young owner tells us, he’s the “perfect mix of French bulldog, German poodle, and Andalusian rat terrier.” “His style and elegance, without a doubt, come from his French side.” (The accompanying illustrations show a chuckle-worthy parade of extravagantly modish canines.) His “loud bark” and “curly fur” are from his poodle side. What does he get from his Andalusian rat terrier side? A desire to find the “perfect spot.” Mom and Dad each take him on walks, to no avail. The protagonist hopes he won’t find it in the house; later, the child and a sibling take him on a walk, and amid the rocks in the park, Sparky locates it: the perfect poop spot. But he’s mortified to realize that the rock he chose to do his business on is in fact an annoyed tortoise’s shell, and the kids laugh uproariously. The language, conceit, and loud, scribbly, cartoonish art are droll. Winking, grinning, uber-expressive Sparky is irresistible, whether loudly caterwauling on the piano (to the family’s dismay) or scanning the night sky with binoculars for the perfect spot. Vera adds panache with scenes featuring dotted lines tracing Sparky’s circuitous path. The protagonist of this Spanish import is brown-skinned; the family is multiracial.