Barbara Troisi (Children's Literature)
Albert is a metropolitan dachshund who adores taxis. Pages chock-full of bright acrylic paintings reveal the suave pooch gazing at or peering out of the stretch yellow cabs maneuvering up and down the streets of New York City. Normally he walked with his owner, Mrs. Crabtree, but on rainy days or holiday excursions, she would hail a cab and presto, he imagined himself a noble prince. His taste for solo cab rides began one day while Mrs. Crabtree was busy chatting with Tony the doorman. As "the rest of Mrs. Milton got out of the taxi," Albert hops in and a day of exploration begins--hailing friends and gathering invitations from riders to accompany them on journeys to Kalahari and California. It might have been bon voyage if Mr. Crabtree's arrival at the airport hadn't coincided with Albert's discovery of big white birds (airplanes) and expanded dreams of adventure. It is a doggy escapade brimming with cheery feelings and fresh experiences. The illustrator's symbolic style of lengthening and squaring features adds a unique perspective that will delight young readers. Look for him in a dreaming pose under the text, "But most of all Albert liked to ride in taxis." That scene tells it all! 2004, Atheneum Books, $16.00. Ages 5 to 8.

CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices, 2005)
A dedicated and responsible dog owner, Mrs. Crabtree walks whenever possible, always bringing Albert along for exercise. But Albert has his own preferred method of transportation: taxis. Nothing pleases him more than a rainy morning and knowing there is a good chance Mrs. Crabtree will opt for a cab to run her errands. One momentous day, Albert is overcome by the sight of an open taxi door. Slipping unseen into the vehicle, he experiences the luxury of a solo outing in his transport mode of choice. Once he’s tasted the freedom of traveling unencumbered, Albert contrives to spend the rest of the day darting in and out of yellow cabs, meeting a delightful cast of new acquaintances along the way. Appropriate for such a dog of the road, his day ends at the airport, where the concept of air travel opens the door to a whole new realm of destinations. The understated text is complemented by the humorous illustrations, especially those showing Albert looking like a dachshund with a uniquely piglike muzzle. Clever Albert is first and foremost “a dog of the world.” CCBC categories: Picture Books for School-Aged Children. 2004, A Richard Jackson Book / Atheneum, 32 pages, $16.95. Ages 5-8.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, January 1, 2004 (Vol. 72, No. 1))
In this urbane New York City tale, a small dog's horizons expand when an impulsive hop into a taxi opens up a world of tempting new prospects. Leaving his comfortable Riverside Drive routine behind, Albert finds himself transported all over town, greeting doggy friends as he passes from cab to cab, receiving offers from various riders headed for destinations as far apart as California and the Kalahari. Zarin tells the tale in an offhand, tongue-in-cheek tone-"Bark, woof, aargh!" goes the dialogue during a canine melee-that nicely complements Pratt's views of city streets, long, low-slung yellow cabs and a likewise low-slung dachshund on the move. Albert ends up at the airport, where he runs into one of his startled owners returning from a trip-but the sight of jet liners taking off for parts unknown stays with him on the ride back home. Albert may ride the same streets as the Barraccas' Taxi Dog, but by the close it's plain that his traveling's only just begun. 2004, Atheneum, 32p, $16.95. Category: Picture book. Ages 7 to 9. © 2004 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2004)
When Mr. Crabtree is away on business and Mrs. Crabtree isn't looking, Albert, a taxi-loving dog, jumps into a cab. As one ride leads to another, Albert passes up chances to travel and ends up at the airport just in time to greet Mr. Crabtree's plane. Although the text is a bit long, Albert's attitude and the acrylic illustrations are engaging. Category: Picture Books. 2004, Atheneum/Jackson, 32pp, $16.95. Ages 4 to 9. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws.