Singer/songwriter Dennis Caraher gives his funny and thoughtful songs an ear-pleasing, confiding tone, matched by the carefully crafted simplicity of his folk, country and rock rhythms. He shifts effortlessly from the wackiness of a tall zoo tale ("The Elephant Played Electric Guitar") and "Life Is So Confusing" ("Went into the attic to wash my clothes, put 'em in the oven, but they froze") to the lovely, heartstring-tugging title track about a little dog who was a boy's closest companion until the day she "went to play in Dog Bone Town"-dog heaven. Caraher's a capella tale about a little boy who won't stop crying, despite the efforts of all the grownups around draws listeners in-a teddy bear holds the key to a smile, and "Time To Go To Bed," a parent-and-child tug-of-war that will undoubtedly resonate, is as charming as all get out, with Caraher's daughter singing the child's beguiling point of view. Kids take over with feeling in "Let It Go," too, singing to their peers about what to do with anger and other emotional upheavals; they also add bounce with Caraher in "So Long, See Ya Later," the album's toe-tapping farewell.