Roger the sausage dog is not interested in playing fetch or chasing the mailman. Instead, he spends his time in an existential search for meaning, asking himself important questions such as, “If I had a human girlfriend, would we hold hands or paws?” and, “If there are sausage dogs, are there sausage humans?”

While daydreaming on a park bench one day, Roger is struck by a fantastic idea: he will open a french fry truck! (Exclamation points abound in this book.) Working quickly, he fixes up an old caravan and peels hundreds of potatoes, and in no time business is booming. Word of his delicious spuds spreads worldwide. Soon he is hailed as the French Fry King and is travelling the globe, serving fries with chocolate in Kenya, salsa in Cuba, and curry in India. But Roger’s success does not bring him happiness. Bored and dismayed, he again wanders the streets in search of fulfillment.

Governor General’s Literary Award–­winning Quebecois author/illustrator Rogé has taken a traditional concept – that money alone cannot bring true happiness – and given it a fresh face in Roger, who eventually comes to realize that success can be measured in many ways.

Rogé’s illustrations feature rounded lines and characters that are full of life. Clever details provide many visual delights for the attentive reader. In one spread, Roger is reading Montreal newspaper La Presse upside-down; in another, he is being interviewed by the CBC.

The original French version, Le roi de la patate, was awarded the Prix des libraires du Québec (Quebec bookseller award) in 2011. Alison Morgan (Tundra’s managing director) does an admirable job of translating, rendering the book accessible to an anglophone audience and retaining the feel of the original without compromising either the clarity or charm of Rogé’s French text. While the wording is more poetic in its original language, the strength of this translation lies in its simplicity.

This is a marvellous allegorical tale that will delight children and adults alike, and spur discussions in either official language.