

The listing, Carl's Christmas has ended.
'We're going to Grandma's and then to church. Take good care of the baby, Carl' " is the opening and sole text for this wordless story of the canine Carl and his babysitting talents. In the parents' absence, Carl gives the baby a ride downstairs where they decorate a potted plant. Then, the unflappable dog gets the baby into his outdoor outfit and they're off to town. Once home again, Carl greets the cow-faced reindeer, ushers Santa through the door, helps disperse gifts, and sees the jolly old fellow off up the chimney. Day's paintings are fond renderings of the rottweiler and his baby charge in their modern-day, old Victorian mansion. Readers may wonder how a dog gets a baby into sleepers and up on his back for the ride to bed, but no matter in this fantasy. Carl lovers don't ask questions--capable Carl can do anything.