If the adult who reads this appealingly illustrated work to a young child can accept the unlikely premise that Pugdog's master (who appears to be no less than age 21) thinks his new pet is a boy dog when, in truth, he is a she, author/illustrator U'Ren's light-hearted frolic delivers an important message. Society treats boys and girls differently from birth, often imposing gender differences that are false and constricting. The book is fun, and its moral is one worth pondering.