This is book #4 in the Stick Dog series. The main characters are the same: Poo-Poo, Karen, Mutt, Stripes, and Stick Dog. In this story the dogs are trying to get some relief from the heat. Poo-Poo uses her "special" nose to find water and the dogs get confused by a sprinkler, thinking that the "water machine" is attacking them. Then the reader learns that, according to the author, dogs can read. After hearing music, the dogs discover some "rainbow puddles" (ice cream drips) and are determined to get more so they start following the ice cream truck. Of course, Stick Dog's friends have some crazy plans to get more ice cream, but in the end, it is Stick Dog who is able to implement his plan and get lots of ice cream for his friends.