THE GREAT POOCHINI has something for everyone: Young listeners will be entertained by the relationship between Hersch and his dog during the day, and both children and adults--especially experienced readers familiar with drama and the book's cultural setting--will enjoy the high opera of the nighttime action.

Jack's hidden life as Signor Poochini is appealing and also a bit scary, but he manages both the adulation of his opera audience and the fright of the unexpected (but useful) burglar with quick-thinking aplomb. Children will be empowered by seeing that a little fellow like Jack/Poochini can accomplish so much by expressing himself creatively.

Cartoonish illustrations add to THE GREAT POOCHINI's appeal: In one picture, a gallery of photographs featuring famous opera singers comes to life, waving good-bye as Hersch leaves the house. And though some puns may go over kids' heads, it's fun to learn that The Barker of Seville is a goof on The Barber of Seville, and it might be fun for them to bark their way through some opera music by way of introduction. Italian words are introduced, too--one six-year-old was interested to find out that battiti! means fight!

Another entertaining introduction to opera is Mary Jane Auch's Bantam of the Opera, about the career of another tenor--this time a rooster.